https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101402 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:20:35 GMT 2026-04-09T20:20:35Z https://dspace.mit.edu:443/bitstream/id/d02b6321-1712-40d9-be1f-7eaf3b7d9a99/ https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101402 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142753.2 System Pathways Measurement Toolkit Gralla, Erica; Downing, Tristan; Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Russell, Timothy Edward; Wetmore, Finley; Peters, Megan; Wiseman, Michaela; Miles, Jillian; Reinker, Madison; Steinberg, Sophie This toolkit’s purpose is to support the measurement of system status and change in systems-oriented development projects. Measuring change in a market system (or another complex development system) is challenging because of the system’s complexity: it is difficult (1) to know which parts of the system to measure and (2) how to interpret what a collection of diverse measurements tells us about change in the system. To address both of these challenges, the System Pathways Measurement Toolkit relies on a system map to capture the structure and interconnections of the system, then layers measurements onto the system map to enable the collective interpretation of diverse data on wide-ranging parts of the system. Tools are provided to interpret the measured map by zooming in and out to understand the progression of change in the system, diagnose problems and explain success. Guidance is provided in deciding which parts of a complex system to measure and in developing indicators that can be interpreted easily on the map, based on either available or to-be-collected data. Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142753.2 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155674.2 The Value of Demand Forecasting in Stochastic Last-Mile Fleet Sizing and Composition Planning Zinnenlauf, Philipp; Pina-Pardo, Juan C; Winkenbach, Matthias Customer demand constitutes a crucial source of uncertainty in designing and operating complex and costly urban last-mile distribution operations. To mitigate associated risks, companies are diversifying their last-mile delivery options, exploring new vehicle types, and engaging in varied contracting schemes, encompassing vehicle rentals and spot market capacity utilization. We introduce a sequential learning and optimization problem integrating demand forecasting into a tactical last-mile fleet composition problem under uncertainty. Specifically, we propose a novel forecasting infrastructure and several machine learning models to predict customer demand in the medium-term future with high granularity. These forecasting results are then integrated into a two-stage stochastic program to derive cost-optimal fleet compositions. A real-world case study focusing on an e-commerce retailer in São Paulo, Brazil, reveals the economic viability of stochastic fleet composition planning informed by highly accurate demand forecasts. Our results show that accurate demand forecasts enable e-commerce retailers to make cost-minimizing tactical decisions about the size, vehicle type, and governance structure of the rented vehicle fleet. Furthermore, our framework underlines the importance of implementing integrated decisions, where a fleet composition design is interlinked with forecasting methods to mitigate uncertainties. Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155674.2 2024-07-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155788 Scaling Post-Disaster Housing Capacity: Roundtable Report Finegan, Lauren; Goentzel, Jarrod; Reisman, Erin; Russell, Timothy Edward; Story, Drew In January 2024, the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab held a roundtable on the theme of scaling construction capacity after disasters. The roundtable convened participants from academia, non-profit organizations, and both the public and private sectors. Participants brought varied perspectives to this issue, including considerations of supply chains, local, state, and federal policies, building codes, and private sector construction operations. The roundtable used recent natural disasters and their subsequent housing challenges to frame discussions around two goals: 1) identify approaches to increase capacity for rapidly deployable housing solutions after disasters, and 2) capture policy and operational constraints that hinder implementation of those rapidly deployable housing solutions. The roundtable and this report seek to catalyze systemic research and provide discrete recommendations to address the challenges and opportunities to restore housing for disaster survivors. Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155788 2024-07-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155674 The Value of Demand Forecasting in Stochastic Last-Mile Fleet Sizing and Composition Planning Zinnenlauf, Philipp; Pina-Pardo, Juan C; Winkenbach, Matthias Customer demand constitutes a crucial source of uncertainty in designing and operating complex and costly urban last-mile distribution operations. To mitigate associated risks, companies are diversifying their last-mile delivery options, exploring new vehicle types, and engaging in varied contracting schemes, encompassing vehicle rentals and spot market capacity utilization. We introduce a sequential learning and optimization problem integrating demand forecasting into a tactical last-mile fleet composition problem under uncertainty. Specifically, we propose a novel forecasting infrastructure and several machine learning models to predict customer demand in the medium-term future with high granularity. These forecasting results are then integrated into a two-stage stochastic program to derive cost-optimal fleet compositions. A real-world case study focusing on an e-commerce retailer in São Paulo, Brazil, reveals the economic viability of stochastic fleet composition planning informed by highly accurate demand forecasts. Our results show that accurate demand forecasts enable e-commerce retailers to make cost-minimizing tactical decisions about the size, vehicle type, and governance structure of the rented vehicle fleet. Furthermore, our framework underlines the importance of implementing integrated decisions, where a fleet composition design is interlinked with forecasting methods to mitigate uncertainties. Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155674 2024-07-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153289 Modeling Causal Effects of Disasters and Disaster Relief Activity on Truckload Spot Rates Rana, Shraddha; Goentzel, Jarrod; Caplice, Chris Freight transportation is an important part of the US economy, of which 60% is movement of goods by trucks. We are particularly interested in full truckloads that move goods for a single customer, from a single origin to a single destination. During disasters, as the demand for truckload transportation increases to stock up and distribute emergency supplies, the ability decreases due to infrastructure damage. The increase in demand is not only from private sector but more importantly from public sector agencies for disaster relief. Moreover, as the public and private sector shippers compete for the same carrier resources, it can result in constrained truckload availability and consequently higher prices. With the increase in frequency of natural disasters it is important to model historical impact in order to be prepared for truckload procurement for future disasters. We contribute to disaster modeling and management literature by measuring causal effects of disasters on a critical system's performance. We quantify the magnitude, geographical spread, timing, and duration of the causal effects of disaster conditions (Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma) and consequent public sector disaster relief activity on private sector truckload spot rates using a difference-in-differences methodology. We find that long-haul loads inbound to nodes near the hurricane's paths are most affected by both disaster conditions and disaster relief activity, experiencing a large magnitude of statistically significant increase in spot rates during hurricane periods. Moreover, the increase in spot rates is both localized and short-lived. Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153289 2024-01-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/152374 Estimating the Traffic Congestion Footprint of Retail E-Commerce Parks, Steven; Winkenbach, Matthias The last decade has seen pivotal changes in the "last mile" of logistics: online order volumes are growing, customers are expecting deliveries with quicker turnarounds, and new technologies such as drones and electric vehicles are reshaping suppliers' fulfillment strategies. This study estimates the effects of e-commerce logistics on urban mobility, seeking to quantify how efforts by e-commerce suppliers and carriers to meet shifting consumer demands impacts traffic congestion as experienced by city drivers. Because the impacts to traffic caused specifically by e-commerce operations is not directly observable, we estimate these effects using traffic simulation models. We find that the impact of last-mile e-commerce activities to traffic congestion depends heavily on changes to people's travel behavior as they purchase more goods online. If people make fewer daily shopping trips to brick-and-mortar stores, traffic congestion will improve. If people complement online shopping with in-store shopping, traffic congestion will degrade. To mitigate potential negative traffic impacts, we recommend carriers reform their delivery networks to limit the distances delivery vehicles must travel within cities. Introducing micro-fulfillment centers close to end customers, serving secure lockers where consumers can pick-up packages, transitioning to alternative delivery vehicles with smaller traffic footprints, and consolidating packages onto fewer delivery vehicles with larger cargo capacities can all help reduce the traffic congestion induced by last-mile operations. Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/152374 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151744 Operational and tactical levers to reduce carbon emissions in temperature-sensitive freight transportation for pharmaceuticals Lehmann, Jonas; Winkenbach, Matthias; Janjevic, Milena Carbon emissions are surging worldwide, with mounting political targets and shareholder pressure driving decarbonization efforts across all sectors. The temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical industry is particularly carbon-intensive, partly due to its reliance on carbon-intensive air transport. As pharmaceutical companies predominantly outsource transportation services, they have become increasingly interested in understanding how to minimize emissions from shipping their goods. Consequently, we introduce a carbon estimation and allocation tool tailored to cold-chain logistics for pharmaceuticals, addressing several unique aspects not considered in previous studies, such as incorporating network-level emissions for cooling container provision and a more granular approach for estimating transportation emissions. Applying the tool to a series of case studies, we discover that cooling containers with a lower weight and a higher ratio of usable interior volume to outer container volume have a low r carbon footprint, primarily due to reduced emissions from airfreight. In addition, the optimal container choice depends on the shipment size to maximize the container fill rate. Moreover, the provisioning of cooling containers to alleviate network imbalances via maritime or airfreight should be thoroughly assessed, as it may significantly increase a shipment’s carbon emissions. Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151744 2023-08-08T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150581 Stochastic Analysis of Logistics Capacity in Disaster Response Networks Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander Quickly deploying relief items is key to reducing a population’s burden in case of sudden onset disasters. Emergency response organizations, such as FEMA or local and state agencies hold a strategic stockpile of critical relief items and contract for contingency stock in preparation for emergencies. Their response capacity depends on their decision to stock items at different depots, contracts with contingency suppliers, and procurement of transportation capacity to move these items. Building on prior work of Acimovic & Goentzel (2016) we develop a stochastic linear programming model to capture carrier capacity and contingency suppliers. Inputs to the model are a risk portfolio reflecting the particular disasters and the inherent uncertainty with respect to when an organization needs to address a large or a small disaster. Further inputs are the organic stockpile of critical relief items, referred to as the inventory portfolio, contracts with contingency suppliers, which we term the supplier portfolio, and the portfolio of carriers at any depot location. The model allows to conduct a system assessment and a system optimization. System assessment evaluates the current state and answers how well the current inventory, supplier, and carrier portfolio is able to meet a given risk portfolio. We present aggregate metrics to assess a system in three dimensions. We evaluate service metrics to answer how well the network meets demand of the affected population and how rapidly we reach the affected population, and efficiency metrics to indicate how much resources are necessary to meet demand. Taken together these metrics allow to evaluate the state of an emergency response network. System optimization identifies the optimal allocation of inventory for a given supplier and carrier portfolio against a given risk portfolio. The models provides the above mentioned metrics for a decision-maker to compare to optimal network to the current on. In addition, we prescribe an inventory balance, a carrier contract, and a carrier utilization metric to capture the value of improvement. In both – system assessment and system optimization – we evaluate a time-based model and a cost-based model to capture the inherent cost-time trade-off. Typically, more responsive suppliers and carriers are more expensive and less responsive suppliers and carriers are less expensive. When choosing where to allocate inventory, and which suppliers and carriers to contract an organization has to resolve this trade-off between cost and time. Our model provides insight into this trade-off and the impact on different performance metrics. We use data from the openFEMA API to construct a new risk portfolio and estimate an inventory and a carrier portfolio to show the feasibility and functionality of our approach. Thu, 01 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150581 2018-11-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/145726 Regulatory Implications for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Last-Mile Delivery Gaba, Farri T.; Winkenbach, Matthias This report examines the legal, regulatory, and societal barriers facing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as they are deployed for last-mile delivery with a particular focus on deployment in the United States (U.S.). The status quo for current legal and regulatory restrictions is first explored followed by a discussion on miscellaneous regulatory issues and areas of uncertainty that are likely to challenge unmanned aerial vehicles for last-mile delivery (UAV-LMD) deployment. This is followed by an evaluation of potential societal barriers imposed on UAV-LMD and the likely regulatory pathways through which these barriers will manifest. This report offers a nominal set of restrictions likely to limit operators and their fulfillment network planning and strategic design. Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/145726 2022-10-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143780 The Hidden Costs of Not-So-Friendly Ghost Lanes Acocella, Angela; Caplice, Chris Firms’ (shippers’) procurement of truckload (TL) transportation services is a costly, time-intensive process. The result of these months-long procurement events is typically thousands of contracts between the shipper and transportation service providers (carriers) covering each of the shipper’s lanes (origin-destination pairs) over which it distributes products. Due to TL supply and demand uncertainty, shippers often adopt a coverage strategy to ensure contracted capacity is secured on combinations of lanes on which demand is expected. However, this strategy leads to unnecessary costs and inefficiencies.We find that a large percentage of shippers’ lanes never end up being utilized. We refer to contracted lanes on which no business materializes as ghost lanes. In this study, we characterize ghost lanes to help shippers identify which lanes need not be contracted in the first place to reduce existing startup costs. When none of the expected business on ghost lanes materializes, this disrupts carriers’ network balance and operating efficiencies and impacts service levels to other customers. We empirically demonstrate how the disruptions from ghost lanes from a shipper in one year factor into carriers’ performance and pricing decisions the following year. Moreover, for the lanes that are characteristically ghost lanes but that do materialize, carrier rejection rates are high as are contract prices relative to spot market prices - in other words, shippers are overpaying anyway. We conclude by recommending that firms reconsider their coverage approach to TL transportation procurement by excluding lanes with high probability of becoming ghost lanes (in particular, new lanes) from the traditional annual procurement process. Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143780 2022-07-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142804 Feed the Future Uganda Market System Monitoring: HESN Buy-In Reporting Close-Out Addendum Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142804 2022-05-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142803 Feed The Future Uganda Market System Monitoring: Final Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142803 2022-05-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142795 Draft Methodology for Measuring Change in Market Systems Blair, Courtney; Gralla, Erica; Goentzel, Jarrod; Wetmore, Finley; Peters, Megan This document provides a brief overview of a methodology for measuring change in market systems. It describes a cycle of steps that enable the development, validation, use, and adaptation of a set of indicators for measuring system change. The following are included: • methodology description; • application of the methodology to the financial subsystem, including development of specific indicators; and • application of the methodology to explore the regulatory subsystem’s impact on other areas, including development of specific indicators. Fri, 27 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142795 2022-05-27T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142793 Farmer Survey Data Collection Training Manual by RWI Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward; Goentzel, Jarrod Training Report by RWI for data collection of farmer data that CPMA had been managing and MSM took on as an additional task. Fri, 27 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142793 2022-05-27T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142791 Value Chain Relationship Study Memo Gralla, Erica; Peters, Megan The purpose of this study is to understand how to measure relationships, learn the (perceived) value actors gain from relationships, and identify the key dimensions of relationships that enable economic value. This will ultimately provide an approach for measuring relationships, e.g. indicators, an understanding of actor perceptions on relationship value (can be used for incentive design, e.g.), and as a follow-on, estimates of the value of different types/dimensions of agricultural supply chain relationships in Uganda. Fri, 27 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142791 2022-05-27T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142789 Postmortem on Recent Experiments with E-verification in Uganda's Seed Sector Blair, Courtney; Gralla, Erica; Goentzel, Jarrod This analysis is based on interviews conducted in June-July 2018 with selected seed companies, input dealers, industry representatives, USAID personnel, private sector participants, and a few additional stakeholders. Though not intended to be a fully rigorous analysis, these interviews shed some light on the recent experience with e-Verification programs in Uganda and the challenges that these programs faced. This debrief reflects the opinions expressed by select industry stakeholders. If desired, a more thorough post-mortem would require a formal survey of all input companies participating in e-Verification (including both seed and agricultural chemicals), as well as conversations with government officials and additional private sector participants. A broad survey of farmers and input dealers who were impacted by the programs would also be recommended. Our conversations focused specifically on maize seed, as maize was one of the priority crops for Feed the Future Uganda and given that e-verification faced some of its biggest challenges with maize seed. Indeed, the e-verification labels are still being used for vegetable seed in Uganda, which is almost exclusively imported, and certain agricultural chemicals, but are no longer widely used on maize seed packages. Fri, 27 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142789 2022-05-27T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142786 Uganda Agricultural Market Systems Workshop Summary Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward; Picchione, Katherine; Miles, Jillian; Reinker, Madison; Peters, Megan In seeking to better understand Uganda’s agricultural market systems, working with partners to co-design programs which address bottlenecks, seize opportunities, and achieve systemic change, in support of the Government of Uganda’s Second National Development Plan, USAID hosted a three-day workshop March 15 - 17th, 2017 where 168 participants and presenters explored a market systems approach and developed a pipeline of actionable opportunities and challenges to inform future programming. From the workshop, USAID and its partners have produced seven actionable outputs that will inform investments and partnership opportunities moving forward: 1. A revised set of Uganda’s Agricultural Market Systems map was created, represented by ten subsystems: agro-processing, financial and business services; Production, Post-Harvest Handling and Storage; Human Resources; Inputs Importing & Manufacturing; Input Distribution; Farmer Practices; Commodity Distribution; Regulatory Environment; and Extension Services (Annex 1Uganda’s Agricultural Market Systems Overview Map). 2. Individual participant organizations identified the needed behaviors, ideal relationships and necessary conditions they believed were most important to drive change in the system. This is represented in the Behaviors, Relationships, and Conditions findings found in Annex 2. 3. Data knowns and unknowns were identified by individual participants to catalogue what is already out there and what still needs to be analyzed and commissioned for research (Annex 3Data). 4. All 168 participants “placed” themselves in Uganda’s agricultural market system, through the mapping exercise. This gives all participants a view into what actors are connected to them, both in the room and in the larger marketplace, what behaviors exhibited by what actors exert an influence on them, and what other actors and parts of the system they influence themselves. 5. Having identified areas for intervention and investment through the mapping exercises, a list of participant-identified “Opportunities and Challenges” was created by thematic area (Annex 5Opportunities and Challenges). Narratives supporting the conversations had around opportunities and challenges in these various thematic areas are also included in Annex 6 Narrative Summaries of Thematic Areas Opportunities and Challenges. 6. A participant vote tally on the relative importance of each thematic area. While not providing data to quantify the actual importance or weight of each area, this tally does provide a useful stock-taking or “temperature check” on how to prioritize investments, at least according to the 168 participants in the workshop (Annex 7 Thematic Areas with Participant Votes). 7. A reflection by workshop participants on what different kinds of actors need to start and stop doing to drive systemic change. Again, while not providing an analytically rigorous assessment of what actually needs to happen, this exercise provides a useful view into actor’s perspectives of other actors that they relate to the system (Annex 8 Start and Stop Exercise). Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142786 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142766 Draft Seed Sector Memos Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142766 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142765 Ugandan Health System Mapping Gralla, Erica; Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Steinberg, Sophie Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142765 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142764 BRC Mapping Approach Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Peters, Megan; Russell, Timothy Edward; Blair, Courtney; Reinker, Madison; Miles, Jillian The Behaviors, Relationships, and Conditions (BRC) mapping approach is a way of diagramming complex systems in an intuitive and flexible way. Market conditions, actor behaviors, and inter-actor relationships are depicted within shapes that are connected by arrows. Arrows directionally indicate that one behavior, relationship, or condition enables another to occur. In complex systems, related activities can be grouped into subsystems to facilitate analysis. Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142764 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142763 Understanding Smallholder Access to Finance Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney; Wetmore, Finley System maps can be invaluable tools for organizing and visualizing data. As demonstrated here, adding data to the system map for agricultural finance made it easier to identify three important insights about the system, based on the status of key pathways. The data overlaid on the map was particularly critical in showing that physical access to loans was not, as many assumed, the primary barrier to greater uptake of agricultural loans . The map showed moderate and increasing access, yet loan uptake had not increased accordingly. Overlaying diverse data sets on a depiction of causal pathways was critical to noticing and “debunking” this commonly held assumption. The map could further be used to identify barriers to change and potential areas for investment, both of which serve to generate actionable recommendations for development practitioners to achieve various key system outcomes. Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142763 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142762 Quality-Differentiated Pricing Among Agricultural Traders Picchione, Katherine; Goentzel, Jarrod; Russell, Timothy Edward; Gralla, Erica The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Value Chain (FTF-VC) project uses a market facilitation approach to strengthen the value chains that serve smallholder farmers in Uganda. One of the goals is to improve profitability for farmers and other value chain actors by enabling improved quality and prices throughout the value chain. In a system where actors value quality and are willing to pay more for better products, farmers have the incentive to engage in practices to improve crop quality. To achieve a market for quality products, actors throughout the supply chain should offer and have access to quality-differentiated pricing (QDP). This study addresses a gap in understanding the factors that affect an actor’s ability to access and incentives to extend QDP. Key Takeaways: • QDP strengthens agricultural market systems by creating incentives to improve crop quality, leading to increased revenue. • Interventions to improve crop quality and formalize price setting are likely to help institutionalize QDP. • QDP should be further investigated in Uganda to understand its extent and drivers. • Market facilitation projects should encourage reinforcing behaviors that propagate QDP throughout the value chain. Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142762 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142761 Inputs Subsystem Study Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward; Picchione, Katherine; Peters, Megan; Miles, Jillian; Reinker, Madison The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Value Chain (FTF-VC) project uses a market facilitation approach to impact the value chains that serve smallholder farmers in Uganda. This study focuses on the “inputs subsystem”: the part of the value chain that enables farmers to access inputs such as fertilizer and seeds. We aimed to understand whether and to what extent expected changes were occurring in the last four years of FTF-VC work by asking “How has the inputs “subsystem” been changing over time?” We focus on changes in key behaviors and relationships targeted by the FTF-VC project, and how they have manifested in three types of actors (see Figure 1): wholesalers and input dealers (or “agrodealers”), farmers, and output value chain actors (such as collectors / village agents or traders) who are involved in the inputs value chain. Key Recommendations: Feed the Future Uganda should • Investigate barriers to adoption by input wholesalers/dealers of a mindset focusing on delivering greater value to customers • Examine how output actors selling inputs affects the inputs value chain Market facilitation projects should • Design monitoring strategies that address both the need for longitudinal data and the need for widespread, adaptive measurement • Understand and account for delays in reaping benefits of changes Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142761 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142760 Market System Maps v1.0 Release Notes Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Picchione, Katherine; Peters, Megan; Miles, Jillian; Reinker, Madison; Russell, Timothy Edward Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142760 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142759 Market System Monitoring Activity Overview Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Gralla, Erica; Russell, Timothy Edward; Peters, Megan Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142759 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142758 Market System Mapping and Measuring Workshop Report 2016 Goentzel, Jarrod; Russell, Timothy Edward; Gralla, Erica; Peters, Megan Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142758 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142757 Farmer Market Engagement Study Survey Tools Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Russell, Timothy Edward; Picchione, Katherine; Wiseman, Michaela Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142757 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142756 Preliminary Findings From Agribusiness Interviews Picchione, Katherine; Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Russell, Timothy Edward; Wiseman, Micaela KEY FINDINGS 1. Small agribusinesses have adopted a spectrum of flexible business models. 2. Information is spread through relationships between market actors. 3. Most businesses rely on personal connections for credit; there is widespread distrust of formal financial institutions Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142756 2022-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142755 Uganda Farmer Market Engagement Study Final Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Wiseman, Michaela; Gralla, Erica; Steinberg, Sophie; Wetmore, Finley Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142755 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142754 Market System Maps v2.0 Release Notes Gralla, Erica; Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Russell, Timothy Edward; Picchione, Katherine; Reinker, Madison; Miles, Jillian; Peters, Megan Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142754 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142753 System Pathways Measurement Toolkit Gralla, Erica; Downing, Tristan; Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Russell, Timothy Edward; Wetmore, Finley; Peters, Megan; Wiseman, Michaela; Miles, Jillian; Reinker, Madison; Steinberg, Sophie Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142753 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142752 System Pathways Toolkit Annex Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan; Russell, Timothy Edward; Wetmore, Finley; Gralla, Erica; Peters, Megan Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142752 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142738 System Pathways Workshop Template Downing, Tristan; Russell, Timothy Edward; Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Wetmore, Finley Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142738 2022-05-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/141352 Expanding the Freight Contract Portfolio: Index-Based Freight Contract Design Under Uncertainty Acocella, Angela; Caplice, Chris; Sheffi, Yossi Long-term, fixed-price contracts in the truckload transportation sector have been the prevailing relationship form between firms and their for-hire transportation service providers. While advantageous for planning and budgeting purposes, these contracts do not lend themselves well to contexts in which supply, demand, and market uncertainties are prevalent. We propose an alternative, market-based contract for the truckload sector to reduce the unanticipated costs and performance degradation that result from the standard fixed-price contract. With a uniquely detailed and expansive dataset that captures compounding uncertainties, we build empirical transportation provider decision models. We apply them to index-priced demand across a set of design, implementation, and segmentation strategies and present the those that offer Pareto improvements over the status quo fixed-price contract. Finally, we validate our models with a pilot study of indexed contracts implemented by a large agricultural firm in the US. We employ propensity score matching to quantify the causal effect of indexed pricing on transportation suppliers’ contract compliance and costs the firm incurs during a constrained market period. Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/141352 2022-03-23T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/141351 The End of “Set It and Forget It” Pricing? Opportunities for Market-Based Freight Contracts Acocella, Angela; Caplice, Chris; Sheffi, Yossi In the for-hire truckload market, firms often experience unexpected transportation cost increases due to contracted transportation service provider (carrier) load rejections. The dominant procurement strategy results in long-term, fixed-price contracts that become obsolete as transportation providers’ networks change and freight markets fluctuate between times of over and under supply. We build behavioral models of the contracted carrier’s load acceptance decision under two distinct freight market conditions based on empirical load transaction data. With the results, we quantify carriers’ likelihood of sticking to the contract as their best known alternative priced load options increase and become more attractive; in other words, carriers’ contract price stickiness. Finally, we explore carriers’ contract price stickiness for different lane, freight, and carrier segments and offer insights for shippers to identify where they can expect to see substantial improvement in contracted carrier load acceptance as they consider alternative, market-based pricing strategies. Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/141351 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/138838 National Fuel Ecosystem Assessment Summary Goentzel, Jarrod; Finegan, Lauren; Graham, Chelsey Diane; Russell, Timothy Edward This document presents a summary of the National Fuel Ecosystem Assessment performed by the Supply Chain Analysis Network (SCAN). SCAN is a team of supply chain subject matter experts, including the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab, that supports FEMA with real-time analysis in the event of disasters or other supply chain disruptions, and systemic analysis during non-disaster times. Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/138838 2022-01-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/138837 Preparing PPE stockpiles for the next pandemic Finegan, Lauren; McGuigan, Molly From June 2020 - June 2021, members of Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Disaster Medicine and the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab conducted a year-long research project to support public health planners in creating a state-level emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. The research revealed opportunities for policymakers and emergency management professionals to improve PPE preparedness for the next pandemic. Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/138837 2022-01-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/133062 System Pathways Mapping Toolkit Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Gralla, Erica; Wetmore, Finley; Wiseman, Michaela; Peters, Megan; Downing, Tristan; Russell, Timothy Edward Wed, 20 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/133062 2021-10-20T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131235 Technical Proceedings of the Amazon Last Mile Routing Research Challenge Winkenbach, Matthias; Parks, Steven; Noszek, Joseph Winkenbach, Matthias; Parks, Steven; Noszek, Joesph In the spring of 2021, Amazon hosted the Last Mile Routing Research Challenge with support from the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics. The goal of the challenge was to encourage participants to develop innovative approaches to produce solutions to a real-world route sequencing problem, leveraging a large set of real operational data released by Amazon. All finalists were asked to submit short technical papers to document their methodological approach and its expected performance. This proceedings document provides a consolidated overview of the papers submitted by the participants. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131235 2021-09-02T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131193 Using Kumu: A Primer Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Wetmore, Finley; Downing, Tristan Kumu is an online system mapping tool used by the Market System Monitoring Activity to create system maps. Kumu is an online system mapping tool, available at https://kumu.io. It is open-source and free to use, and an excellent platform for creating dynamic, complex system maps that are easy to access and explore. The Karamoja Household Resilience System Map can be viewed at this address: https://kumu.io/MSM/msm-karamoja-household-resilience-system-map. Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131193 2021-08-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131192 Karamoja Resilience Map: The Basic Elements Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Wetmore, Finley; Downing, Tristan This guide is for interpreting the Karamoja Resilience System Maps, and provides descriptions of the different element types and connections on the system maps Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131192 2021-08-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131191 Applying System Mapping Techniques to Resilience: Case Study Resilience in Karamoja, Uganda Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan The creation of the Resilience Map coincided roughly with the creation of the Karamoja Resilience Cluster in USAID. The Resilience Map focuses on Karamoja households and attempts to capture the unique aspects of Karamoja's livelihoods. This work is a key step in merging USAID's development and humanitarian fields, both Feed the Future and Food for Peace, and this map is a tool they use for collaboration. The Karamoja Household Resilience Systems Map was developed from a need to understand better the factors that enable a household to be resilient, specifically the interplay between humanitarian support and access to livelihoods and markets. The previous map created by the MSM team, the Uganda AgriculturalMarket System Map, captured a rough overview of household resilience as part of the broader agriculture market system. However, when it came to activities placing their interventions on the map and identifying important areas, the "Household Resilience" subsystem quickly became overwhelmed. Evidently, household resilience is a key part of the broader system and merits a more nuanced understanding. The creation of the Resilience Map coincided roughly with the creation of the Karamoja Resilience Cluster in USAID. Thus, the Resilience Map would focus on Karamoja households and attempt to capture the unique aspects of Karamoja's livelihoods. This work is a key step in merging the development and humanitarian fields in USAID. Both Feed the Future and Food for Peace activities operate in Karamoja, and the resilience map is a useful tool they can use for collaboration. Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131191 2021-08-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131190 Karamoja Market System Outbrief: Applying System Mapping to Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Downing, Tristan System maps can be an essential tool for enabling collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) by USAID Activities. System maps can be an essential tool for enabling collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) by USAID Activities. As part of our work supporting USAID/Uganda, the USAID/Uganda Feed the Future Market System Monitoring (MSM) Activity developed two system maps representing aspects of the agricultural market system in the Karamoja region. In this report, we discuss how these maps can be used by USAID/Uganda’s Karamoja Cluster to identify opportunities for collaboration and adaptation, monitor system change, and develop a learning agenda. We also discuss key system-level insights that can be derived from the system maps. Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131190 2021-08-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131189 Identifying Pathways to Food Security and Inclusive Growth: Workshop Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Gralla, Erica; Russell, Timothy Edward; Wiseman, Michaela; Wetmore, Finley; Peters, Megan The June 2019 Feed the Future Workshop: Identifying Pathways to Food Security and Inclusive Growth was led by the USAID/Uganda Mission and organized by the USAID/Uganda Feed the Future Market System Monitoring Activity. On June 10th, 2019, the USAID/Uganda Mission hosted a workshop for Uganda’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) portfolio, bringing together USAID staff and implementing partners working on Feed the Future, Food for Peace, and resilience programming. The workshop had three main objectives: 1. Bring together the broader group of stakeholders working on the Global Food Security Strategy in order to incorporate resilience programming more formally into the systems approach. 2. Strengthen the group’s collective understanding of USAID’s work on agriculture and food security in Uganda, particularly the opportunities for synergy and collaboration between Feed the Future and Resilience programs. 3. Solicit input from participants on where USAID should invest next: which interventions were working well, and where there were gaps that needed to be filled. The workshop was also designed to provide an introduction to the System Pathways Toolkit, a set of tools for mapping and measuring complex systems developed by the USAID/Uganda Feed the Future Market System Monitoring Activity (MSM). The MSM team organized and facilitated the workshop in consultation with the USAID/Uganda Economic Growth Unit. Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131189 2021-08-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130906 Mapping Karamoja Cluster High-Level Outcomes: Applying System Mapping Techniques to Understanding Resilience Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan This document outlines how to use a system map to examine high-level outcomes and their corresponding measures of success. This document is focusing on the Karamoja Cluster, but the methods could be applied to other situations where we are trying to achieve specific goals within a complex system. The document is made up of three sections: finding the High-Level Outcomes on a system map, examining the High-Level Outcomeson a system map, and examining the Measures of Success on a system map. System maps can be used to connect high-level outcomes to the technical details of interventions and show how a complex set of interventions and conditions are needed to achieve these high-level outcomes. This document outlines how to use a system map to examine high-level outcomes and their corresponding measures of success. This document focuses on the Karamoja Cluster, but the methods could be applied to other situations where we are trying to achieve specific goals within a complex system. The document is made up of three sections: 1. Finding the High-Level Outcomeson a system map: We show where the Karamoja Cluster’s high-level outcomes are located on a system map. 2. Examining the High-Level Outcomes on a system map: We take a closer look at one high-level outcome to examine what enables it. 3. Examining the Measures of Success on a system map: We take a closer look at two measures of success for the high-level outcome to examine what enables them and how to infer their status with limited information Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130906 2021-06-07T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130894 Using System Maps for CLA: Applying Systems Approaches to International Development Goentzel, Jarrod; Gralla, Erica; Blair, Courtney The USAID/Uganda Feed the Future Market System Monitoring Activity (MSM) is a partnership between the Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Washington University (GW). Our objective is to enable development practitioners to apply systems thinking to their development work. Our tools and approaches are particularly well suited for Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA). Here we provide a brief overview of how system maps can be used for CLA. Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130894 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130893 Karamoja Resilience Cluster Workshop: Applying System Mapping Techniques to Resilience Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan The Karamoja Resilience Cluster was established by USAID to improve collaboration and coordination in the Karamoja region. As of January 2020, it consisted of USAID’s implementing partners working in the districts of Kaabong, Karenga, and Kotido. In January 2020, the Market System Monitoring Activity (MSM) hosted a workshop for the Karamoja Resilience Cluster, with support from the Uganda Learning Activity (ULA). The workshop was attended by representatives of all of USAID’s activities in the districts, along with USAID/Uganda leadership and program staff. This workshop was the first convening of the Cluster and provided participants with an opportunity to understand each other’s work and conceptualize how the Cluster will operate moving forward. Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130893 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130099 Data-driven optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Python Source Code Rothkopf, Alexander; Goentzel, Jarrod Thu, 01 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130099 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130093 Two Quasi-Experiments Concerning Working Conditions of American Truck Drivers Correll, David; Caplice, Chris; Martens, Bobby Two quasi-experiments are presented concerning the working conditions of American long-haul truck drivers. Using driver weeks as the unit of analysis, we present several statistically significant differences between driver weeks that preceded a truck driver leaving their employer and those that did not, as well as significant behavioral differences between "soft" (low transportation price) and "tight" (high transportation price) market conditions. We also document consistent and predicable patterns in the weekly lives of truck drivers. These experiments provide new insights into the working conditions of America's increasingly scarce long-haul truck drivers. Fri, 05 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130093 2021-03-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129662 Data-driven optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Final Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane This final report summarizes the research methods and results in the project “Optimization-based Evaluation of USAID/OFDA Global Logistics Capacity”. This research was a part of the MIT Comprehensive Initiative on Technology Evaluation (CITE). Throughout the period of performance from May 2019 to September 2020 a research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab worked with the Office of Foreign Disaster Response, which was merged with USAID’s Food for Peace into the new Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), to research a model, methods, inputs, and outputs to support inventory decision-making for disaster response operations. In Phase I of the project the team worked to understand BHAs operational processes during disaster responds and collected data and information to characterize the operations. Key results are summarized in a report for Phase I and an accompanying presentation. Phase I revealed the complexities of planning disaster response operations at BHA. The team settled on researching model support for two key operational decisions: (1) How much inventory should BHA hold in each of the four global warehouses for disaster response, and (2) How much inventory in total should BHA carry in their system? The team also aimed to support decision-making through metrics that shed light into system performance and provide easy access and comparability among options. The team developed a stochastic linear program, relying on various data sets required for inputs, and created multiple methods to merge and extract important information relevant for modelling. The team created a model that supports strategic inventory decision-making in multiple ways. Results show that BHA can rely on the model to answer the strategic inventory allocation decisions raised above and use six key metrics to compare preparedness options: (i) Inventory balance metric, (ii) average time, (iii) average cost, (iv) % TAP served, (v) % fully served, and (vi) the inventory allocation metric. Over the course of the project BHA became convinced that the model can support critical decision-making. The team outlined a path towards implementing a decision-support tool and identified how a systematic decision-making process is a key prerequisite for effective implementation. Inspired by the sales & operations planning process (S&OP) used widely in the private sector, the team researched and developed a concept note for S&OP process for BHA’s disaster-response-planning activities. It highlights how such planning processes, especially in conjunction with a well-defined supply chain strategy, provide the framework for developing robust decision-support tools in the future. The work also revealed multiple interesting insights into operational strategies. For example, the research team was able to show that the number of people BHA typically seeks to serve relative to the total inventory in the system effects the level of inventory consolidation that is optimal in the network. This also underlined the importance of the disaster portfolio approach and the need for an appropriate estimation of the sets of disasters in this portfolio. The research team outlined an approach for using predictive analytics to determine a forward-looking disaster portfolio. This final report is accompanied by a set of documents that provide further details on model, methods, data, and results: (i) Phase I results presentation, (ii) Phase II results presentation, and a (iii) BHA S&OP document. Final Report Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129662 2020-09-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129661 Data-driven optimization of OFDA’s disaster response capacity: Final report presenation Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane Final Report Presentation Thu, 30 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129661 2021-09-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129660 Data-drivien optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Concept Note Sales & Operations Plan Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane This document first reviews the general S&OP process that was originally developed for for-profit sector companies. The team then maps the for-profit S&OP application to a planning process that accommodates BHA’s organizational structure and needs. Finally, the team highlights how the model and the performance metrics can be included in the S&OP process and show a path for implementation at BHA. Concept Note: Sales & Operations Plan Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129660 2020-09-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129659 Data-drivien optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Phase II - Workshop IV Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane Phase II - Network Design Workshop IV Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129659 2020-04-29T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129658 Data-drivien optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Phase II - Workshop III Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane Phase II - Network Design Workshop III Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129658 2020-04-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129657 Optimization-based Evaluation of USAID/OFDA’s Global Logistics Capacity: Phase II - Workshop II Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane Optimization-based Evaluation of USAID/OFDA’s Global Logistics Capacity: Phase II - Network Design Workshop II Tue, 24 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129657 2020-03-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129656 Data-drivien optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Phase II Workshop I Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane Phase II - Workshop I Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129656 2020-03-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129655 Data-driven optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Phase I Report Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Office of Foreign Disasters Assistance (OFDA) collaborates with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab (HUSCL) at the Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) in the project “Optimization-based Evaluation of USAID/OFDA’s Global Logistics Capacity”. This collaboration intends to provide data-driven, model-based recommendations to optimize OFDA’s global response capabilities. The project runs from May 2019 until September 2020 and comprises two phases. In Phase I the project team conducted preliminary analyses to develop a deeper understanding of OFDA’s operations and collected the necessary information to conduct the modeling. Also, they used a preliminary model to showcase outputs and recommendations of a more tailored-modeling approach, which is the main focus of Phase II. This summary report highlights important findings and outlines a path forward for Phase II. Data-driven optimization of OFDA’s disaster response capacity: Phase I Report Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129655 2019-09-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129654 Data-drivien optimization of OFDA's disaster response capacity: Phase I Report Analyses Goentzel, Jarrod; Rothkopf, Alexander Presentation for Phase I Report Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129654 2019-09-16T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129417 Karamoja Kumu Mapping Guide Downing, Tristan; Blair, Courtney; Goentzel, Jarrod; Wetmore, Finley This guide is for interpreting the Karamoja Market System Maps, and provides descriptions of the different element types and connections on the system maps Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129417 2021-01-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128434 Emergent Issues Related to Freight Systems Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic These reports were generated by the Supply Chain Analysis Network (SCAN). MIT’s Humanitarian Supply Lab (HSCL)—along with Dewberry, the Center for Naval Analyses, and American Logistics Aid Network—work together as part of SCAN to support FEMA's Logistics Management Directorate during crisis activations. HSCL hosts three of the five team members that delivered national freight assessments over 10 weeks during SCAN’s 2020 COVID-19 activation. Each assessment followed a week-long research and industry peer review process before delivery to FEMA. Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128434 2020-11-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127826 COVID-19 Update Report No. 4 (Executive Summary) Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan This report captures key impacts of COVID-19, and the corresponding government response, on the agriculture market system in Uganda. It is based on our analysis of more than 250 sources, including open-source data, articles, and reports, combined with targeted key informant interviews and insights derived from our system maps. This report provides updates to our previous analysis, as well as a discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers. We also discuss which components of the agricultural market system should be monitored over the next few months in order to evaluate the impact on the system moving forward. Thu, 17 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127826 2020-09-17T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127825 COVID-19 Update Report No. 4 Goentzel, Jarrod; Downing, Tristan; Blair, Courtney This report captures key impacts of COVID-19, and the corresponding government response, on the agriculture market system in Uganda. It is based on our analysis of more than 250 sources, including open-source data, articles, and reports, combined with targeted key informant interviews and insights derived from our system maps. This report provides updates to our previous analysis, as well as a discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers. We also discuss which components of the agricultural market system should be monitored over the next few months in order to evaluate the impact on the system moving forward. Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127825 2020-09-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127779 Optimization-based Evaluation of Global Logistics Capacity Rothkopf, Alexander; Graham, Chelsey Diane; Goentzel, Jarrod Humanitarian organizations, donor countries, and governments pre-position emergency supplies worldwide to facilitate rapid response to crisis needs. These organizations often pre-position stock at various warehouses around the world without formally analyzing how effectively this rapid response capacity can address future humanitarian needs. This may result in surplus stock, positioned too far for effective deployment, sitting idle (or expiring) in some locations and insufficient stock in other locations to provide timely response. USAID/OFDA has such response capacity through pre-positioned stock and could set an example for evidence-based resource allocation to address future humanitarian responses. Optimization-based metrics could assess the effectiveness of its global stock portfolio in addressing a portfolio of anticipated global disaster risks in the future. Such analysis could also be extended to consider contingent capacity from suppliers on contract, and incorporate a portfolio of transportation resources to move items from pre-positioning warehouses to disaster locations. Optimization-based metrics could then inform USAID/OFDA decision-making regarding stockpile deployment, and potentially contract negotiation for suppliers and transportation providers. This evidence base could also foster coordination efforts for humanitarian supply pre-positioning across organizations at the international, regional and national levels. Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127779 2020-09-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127658 Conducting a Rapid System Assessment Goentzel, Jarrod; Downing, Tristan; Blair, Courtney Nearly all development practitioners work in complex systems, and when a major shock occurs, it is important to understand the impact on the system as quickly as possible. In these situations, system maps serve as vital decision tools, helping practitioners to understand the state of the system after a shock (or throughout a prolonged shock) and to assess the feasibility and appropriateness of different intervention options. The USAID/Uganda Market System Monitoring Activity has developed tools for practitioners to apply systems thinking to a diverse set of sectors and systems. Our system maps are built around an intuitive framework of behaviors, conditions, and relationships. They allow practitioners to visualize complex systems, track how the systems adapt and transform, and measure how change propagates through the system. To learn more about creating system maps, please contact the MSM team. This document explains how to use a system map to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of a particular shock on a system. We have also created an example using a free online system mapping tool, Kumu – links to this example map as well as a guide to the example are provided at the end of the document. Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127658 2020-09-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127281 COVID-19 Update Report No. 3 Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan This report captures key impacts of COVID-19, and the corresponding government response, on the agriculture market system in Uganda. This update report focuses on agricultural commodity distribution, particularly wholesaling, transportation, processing, and distribution. It is based on our analysis of open-source information combined with targeted key informant interviews and insights derived from system maps. These assessments will be updated as new information becomes available. Mon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127281 2020-07-20T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127280 COVID-19 Update Report No. 2 Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan This report captures key impacts of COVID-19, and the corresponding government response, on the agriculture market system in Uganda. This update report discusses the impact on the agricultural inputs supply chain, based on our analysis of open-source information combined with insights derived from system maps. These assessments will be updated as new information becomes available. Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127280 2020-06-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127279 COVID-19 Update Report No. 1 Goentzel, Jarrod; Blair, Courtney; Downing, Tristan The preventative measures imposed by the Government of Uganda to curb the spread of COVID-19 are likely to have an impact on various components of the agricultural market system, which could aggregate into broader systemic effects. The Market System Monitoring team is conducting an analysis of the agricultural market system to anticipate the impact of COVID-19 and these preventative measures. This first assessment is based on our previous knowledge of the system, as well as consultations with a few key stakeholders. We will be updating our analysis as we gather more information and as the situation changes. Mon, 01 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127279 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127277 Guide to Shock Maps in Kumu Downing, Tristan; Goentzel, Jarrod; Wetmore, Finley; Blair, Courtney To demonstrate how to conduct a Rapid System Assessment, we have created an example based on a notional representation of how COVID-19 could impact income generation in Karamoja, a relatively isolated region of Uganda where households are primarily engaged in agriculture and pastoralism. Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127277 2020-09-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127186 Disaster Supply Chains: From Situational Awareness to Actionable Analysis Boutilier, Justin James; Goentzel, Jarrod; Windle, Michael Achieving situational awareness is insufficient when it comes to restoring private sector supply chains. More important than being aware of the current situation is correctly understanding interdependent supply chains, forecasting resources and flows, and knowing where and how to intervene with government assistance. Private sector organizations achieve supply chain visibility with enterprise resource systems. Achieving the same visibility across competing and decentralized private sector organizations will require a shift in how the emergency management community approaches cooperation and data aggregation. Accurate, timely, and representative data feeds are required for explanatory, forecasting, and prescriptive tools that should be used dynamically during disasters, not afterwards. Successful data aggregation strategies will require a mix of connecting to pre-existing data feeds and collecting information directly through creation of voluntary trusted spaces and mandatory reporting requirements. Complex models that leverage optimization and machine learning can provide emergency managers with a better understanding of the causes and remedies of supply chain disruption. Models will take time and effort to develop and employ. Models should support, not replace, current information sources to enable better decision making. Improved communication between government and the private sector is critical for improved disaster response. Collaboration between public and private sector actors will contribute to better information flow and help prioritize recovery efforts. Fri, 31 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127186 2019-05-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126772 Supply Chain Resilience: Restoring Business Operations After a Hurricane Goentzel, Jarrod; Windle, Michael MIT’s Humanitarian Response Lab at the Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) held a roundtable on supply chain resilience in the face of large-scale disasters. To gather a cross-sectional understanding of the issue, the event convened participants from academia, public sector, and private sector – who brought their respective perspectives to illuminate this crucial intersection of management science, government policy, and business strategy. To ensure candor, this report was prepared under the Chatham House Rule of not identifying the specific speakers or affiliations of the anecdotes, insights, or recommendations. The roundtable used three major hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, and Maria) during 2017 as a focal point for gathering multiple points of view from the public and private sector and spanning supply chains from manufacturer to retailer. The roundtable and this report are aimed to catalyze more systematic research of the issues and opportunities revealed by shared discussion of how business and government support survivors and restore a disaster-impacted economy. Fri, 08 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126772 2017-12-08T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126737 Actionable Analysis: Simulating and Visualizing Fuel Distribution During Disasters Russell, Timothy Edward; Boutilier, Justin James; Kleinmann, Sarah; Goentzel, Jarrod The aim of this project is to develop analytical concepts and tools that can be employed by FEMA to improve supply chain resiliency and adaptability during crises. Proposed frameworks and models are designed for use by emergency management leaders and private sector collaborators to assist in disaster preparedness planning, guide emergency response and recovery, or both. The key is to develop concepts and tools that enable actionable analysis. Fundamental to our research is the concept of sentinel surveillance developed for application in public health and epidemiology. Sentinel surveillance monitors selected nodes in a health network – sentinel points – to collect data that can be used to identify an impending public health issue. Regular data collection at sentinel points can be used to track trends in public health. Sentinel indicators based on such trend data can be tailored to track different public health issues. Further investigation or intervention can be triggered when the sentinel indicator deviates beyond a threshold. We adapt the idea of sentinel surveillance to monitor the health of supply chains, ranging from upstream supply networks to downstream demand networks that serve communities. The focus of this surveillance is on private sector supply chains that have the most capacity to provide essential commodities. Our analysis aims to identify appropriate sentinel points in private sector networks to diagnose issues, evaluate potential supply chain interventions to accelerate restoration of predisaster business operations, and anticipate where public sector gap-filling support for essential commodities is most needed. Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126737 2020-07-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125591 A Discrete Simulation-Based Optimization Algorithm for the Design of Highly Responsive Last-Mile Distribution Networks Snoeck, Andre; Winkenbach, Matthias Online and omnichannel retailers are proposing increasingly tight delivery deadlines, moving closer towards instant on-demand delivery. To operate last-mile distribution systems with such tight delivery deadlines efficiently, defining the right strategic distribution network design is of paramount importance. However, this problem exceeds the complexity of the strategic design of traditional last-mile distribution networks for two main reasons: (1) the reduced time available for order handling and delivery, and (2) the absence of a delivery cut-off time that clearly separates order collection and delivery periods. This renders state-of-the-art last-mile distribution network design models inappropriate, as they assume periodic order fulfillment based on a delivery cut-off. In this study, we propose a metamodel simulation-based optimization (SO) approach to strategically design last-mile distribution networks with tight delivery deadlines. Our methodology integrates an in-depth simulator with traditional optimization techniques by extending a traditional black-box SO algorithm with an analytical model that captures the underlying structure of the decision problem. Based on a numerical study inspired by the efforts of a global fashion company to introduce on-demand distribution with tight delivery deadlines in Manhattan, we show that our approach outperforms contemporary SO approaches as well as deterministic and stochastic programming methods. In particular, our method systematically yields network designs with superior expected cost performance. Furthermore, it converges to good solutions with a lower computational budget and is more consistent in finding high-quality solutions. We show how congestion effects in the processing of orders at facilities negatively impact the network performance through late delivery of orders and reduced potential for consolidation. In addition, we show that the sensitivity of the optimal network design to congestion effects in order processing at the facilities increases as delivery deadlines become increasingly tight. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125591 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125416 A Systems-Level Technology Policy Analysis of the Truck-and-Drone Cooperative Delivery Vehicle System Gaba, Farri; Winkenbach, Matthias This paper concerns a systems-level assessment of the truck-and-drone cooperative delivery system and its integration into urban environments. The analysis is grounded in an assessment of the regulatory environment currently applicable to truck-and-drone logistics, with a particular focus on the state of small unmanned aerial vehicle regulation in the United States. This is followed by a broad discussion of the social, environmental and operational implications of such a system deployed at scale and its potential impact on society. The paper concludes with an appraisal of the compatibility between today's relevant regulation and the evolving truck-and-drone system technology. A proposal for an adaptive regulatory framework to guide the safe, responsible development and deployment of this emerging technology is then proposed that suits the technology's various stakeholders; citizens, municipalities, relevant regulatory bodies and logistics firms. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125416 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/124451 Forecasting Long Haul Truckload Spot Market Rates Rana, Shraddha; Caplice, Chris The objective of this paper is to predict long haul truckload spot market rates for the near future. Short term spot rate forecasts help with making operational decisions, estimating budgets for shippers and cash flow for carriers. First, we check if the weekly spot rates time series is a Random Walk process. In which case a Naïve forecast is better than other auto-regressive time series models and thus we use it as our base forecast. We then use exogenous economic indicators as inputs to a Linear Regression model, fit using Elastic Net Regularization, to check if there are leading indicators for truckload spot rates. An important aspect of the truckload spot market is the periodic cycles of soft (decreasing market rates) and tight (increasing market rates) markets. Such changes in the time series, or concept drift, make old forecasting models irrelevant. We thus use two implicit and one explicit concept drift handling methods to retrain our forecasting models. We create forecasts for 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks into the future and compare MAPEs of the models to conclude that Naïve model outperforms them in each case. We also discuss how explicit detection of concept drift provides useful information on changes in the market cycle for the stakeholders. Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/124451 2020-03-23T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123694 Elephants or Goldfish?: An Empirical Analysis of Carrier Reciprocity in Dynamic Freight Markets Acocella, Angela J. (Angela Josephine); Caplice, Chris; Sheffi, Yossi Dynamic macroeconomic conditions and non-binding truckload freight contracts enable both shippers and carriers to behave opportunistically. We present an empirical analysis of carrier reciprocity in the US truckload transportation sector to demonstrate whether consistent performance and fair pricing by shippers when markets are in their favor result in maintained primary carrier tender acceptance when markets turn. The results suggest carriers have short memories: they do not remember shippers’ previous period pricing or tendering consistency when making freight acceptance decisions. However, carriers appear to be myopic and respond to shippers’ current market period behaviors, ostensibly without regard to shippers’ previous behaviors. A later version of this working paper has been published in a peer-reviewed journal and can be access here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102073 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123694 2020-01-23T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122668 Corporate Supply Chain Disclosures and Factors Determining the Disclosure Approaches: A Palm Oil Case Study Lee, Yin Jin; Bateman, Alexis H Palm oil is one of four big commodities contributing to rapid deforestation. Companies face stakeholder pressure to produce and source palm oil sustainably and to disclose their commitments and actions. This study analyses companies' disclosures to understand the state of disclosure practice, identify typical disclosure profiles, examine the complementarity between commitments and sustainable sourcing practices, understand the factors influencing companies' disclosure profiles, and identify ways to encourage companies to act sustainability and disclose their supply chain information. Data were collected from publicly available documents such as websites, annual reports, and sustainability reports. Methods used include content analysis, means clustering and multinomial logit regression. The resulting disclosure profiles can be used as a guide for companies towards to understand the state of disclosures and ideally, select more aggressive supply chain sustainability approaches. The estimated model quantified the importance of media influence and regulations in encouraging greater corporate supply chain sustainability and disclosures. Sun, 29 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122668 2019-09-29T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122651 Disaster Housing Construction Challenges in America Windle, Michael; Quraishi, Sarah; Goentzel, Jarrod Disaster housing is frequently identified as a major challenge for emergency managers in the United States. This report looks at disaster housing within the broader context of America’s non-disaster construction market, with an emphasis on housing technology options as well as disaster policy dynamics across federal, state, and local governments. Analysis is grouped around three pillars: current situation, possible future, and obstacles. The report includes a comprehensive look at past disaster housing policies, a descriptive analysis of housing market trends and disaster reconstruction funding, and state and local perspectives on past challenges and future directions. With an intended audience of emergency managers, housing agencies, policymakers, building code experts, and the construction industry, the report identifies 11 recommendations grouped into the areas of Process Improvement, Decision Support, and Direction Setting. This electronic version was submitted by the authors as part of their research in MIT’s Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab within MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics. This research was in support of FEMA’s Housing Assistance Initiative and the multi-lab MIT research project titled “Alternatives for FEMA Disaster-Related Housing Assistance.” Document includes references. Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122651 2019-10-28T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122268 Quantifying the impact of urban road networks on the efficiency of local trips Merchan, Daniel; Snoeck, Andre; Matthias, Winkenbach City-level circuity factors have been introduced to quantify and compare the directness of vehicular travel across different cities. While these city-level factors help to improve the quality of distance approximation functions for city-wide vehicle movements, more granular factors are needed to obtain accurate shortest path distance approximations for last- mile transportation systems that are typically characterized by local trips. More importantly, local circuity factors encode valuable information about the efficiency and complexity of the urban road network, which can be leveraged to inform policy and practice. In this paper, we quantify and analyze local network circuity leveraging contemporary traffic datasets. Using the city of Sao Paulo as our primary case study and a combination of supervised and un-supervised machine learning methods, we observe significant heterogeneities in local network circuity, explained by dimensional and topological properties of the road network. Locally, real trip distances are about twice as long as distances predicted by the L1 norm. Results from Sao Paulo are compared to seven additional urban areas in Latin America and the United States. At a coarse-grained level of analysis, we observe similar correlations between road network properties and local circuity across these cities Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122268 2019-07-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/114146 Revenue Mangement in Last-Mile Delivery: State-of-the-Art and Future Research Directions Snoeck, Andre; Merchan, Daniel; Winkenbach, Matthias This paper explores future avenues of research for revenue management in last-mile delivery. First, we review earlier efforts in this field, which have focused primarily on the problem of attended home deliveries (AHD) of groceries. Second, based on a topological classification of last-mile delivery characteristics, we identify relevant extensions inspired in current industry trends. Finally, we outline how existing models should be extended for these new problems and discuss promising streams of future research. Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/114146 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113244 A Framework for Implementing Blockchain Technologies to Improve Supply Chain Performance Debabrata, Ghosh; Albert, Tan The objective of this paper is to describe the contemporary issues that supply chains face using the information sharing dimension and analyze blockchain technology’s capabilities to address these issues. We discuss select issues in managing contemporary supply chains from an information sharing perspective namely, information coordination challenges, effect of product and service manifestation on information complexity, effect of customer demand manifestation on information flow, outsourcing and globalization effects on information flow, and new emerging threats to supply chains by affecting information vulnerability. These issues are further categorized into- confidentiality and trust issues, inability to share information between supply chain partners, limitations of IT systems and lack of data standards. To address these issues, a unifying framework describing the applicability of blockchain has been presented that will guide companies in designing and implementing potential blockchain solutions to address issues in information exchange among supply chain partners. Blockchain based research is in nascent stages and this paper aims to add to this emerging research paradigm by analyzing blockchain technology through the information sharing dimension of supply chains. (this record is metadata only) Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113244 2018-01-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/109375 Internet of Things and Supply Chains: A Framework for Identifying Opportunities for Improvement and Its Application Phadnis, Shardul Management and technology experts believe that the internet of things (IoT) has the potential to radically transform today’s supply chains. Several practice-focused publications describe various ways in which IoT capabilities can affect the supply chains in positive and negative ways. However, no generic framework describing the peculiar effects of IoT on supply chains has yet emerged. This study presents a theoretical framework to articulate the distinct ways in which the IoT can influence the management of supply chains. The use of this framework is illustrated by applying it to identify opportunities for improving two supply chains: the supply chain described in the famed “Beer Distribution Game” and a revised version of that supply chain. This framework, grounded in the foundation of organizational information processing theory, can be of practical use in guiding organizations envision novel ways to improve the performance of their supply chains by deploying the IoT capabilities. Fri, 26 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/109375 2017-05-26T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106930 Financing the SME Value Chains Asad, Ata; Manish, Shukla; Mahender, Singh This research work is built upon case studies from Malaysia and India and surveys conducted on the supply and demand of SME finance in Malaysia. Addressing SMEs’ needs for finance, it is assessed that formal financial lending organizations represent a weak link in the financial supply chain for SMEs in the region. A lack of collateral and limited access to venture and growth capital are some of the obstacles that SME owners face when seeking finance for their businesses. This lack of affordable financing options stymies the growth of SMEs in Asia. This work classifies nine areas of demand for SME capital and suggests that banks in the region need to redesign their lending portfolios to better evaluate and manage the SME’s needs for finance. To help clarify the risks, this paper shows how the different sources of SME financing could be weighted with the so-called 5Cs framework viz. capacity, capital, character, collateral and condition. It suggests that the lending organizations should adopt more innovative ways to analyze SME loans, and gain a deeper understanding of how these enterprises fund their supply chains. Eleven key devices or mechanisms are discussed to leverage the lending process. Tue, 14 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106930 2017-02-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104928 Estimating Demand for Substitutable Products when Inventory Records are Unreliable Steeneck, Daniel; Eng-Larsson, Fredrik; Jauffred, Francisco We present a procedure for estimating demand for substitutable products when the inventory record is unreliable and only validated infrequently and irregularly. The procedure uses a structural model of demand and inventory progression, which is estimated using a modified version of the Expectation Maximization-method. The procedure leads to asymptotically unbiased estimates without any restrictive assumptions about substitution patterns or that inventory records are periodically known with certainty. The procedure converges quickly also for large product categories, which makes it suitable for implementation at retailers or manufacturers that need to run the analysis for hundreds of categories or stores at the same time. We use the procedure to highlight the importance of considering inventory reliability problems when estimating demand, first through simulation and then by applying the procedure to a data set from a major US retailer. The results show that for the product category in consideration, ignoring inventory reliability problems leads to demand estimates that on average underestimate demand by 5%. It also results in total lost sales estimates that account for only a fraction of actual lost sales. Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104928 2016-10-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104649 A Decision Making Framework for Reverse Logistics Network Design Tan, Albert; Chanchaichujit, Janya The main objective of this research is to answer the following research question “How should a company design their reverse logistics network in a more efficient or responsive way?” In this research, a conceptual framework has been developed based on several key factors for network design. Through the analysis of each key factor affecting network design decision, we have built a conceptual framework for reverse logistics network for companies to decide on whether to centralize versus decentralize their reverse logistics operations, and whether to outsource or insource some of their operations? Some existing studies are able to fit well in our proposed framework, giving us better insights to decision making in reverse logistics network design. The proposed conceptual framework is helpful for the companies or organizations to make better decisions when designing their reverse logistics operations to achieve a lean or responsive network. Wed, 05 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104649 2016-10-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104095 A proposed set of criteria for supply chain strategy evaluation Perez-Franco, Roberto This note explores the applicability of evaluation criteria to the problem of evaluating the supply chain strategy of an organization. A discussion of supply chain strategy evaluation is relevant today, as the validity of the dominant approach – proposed two decades ago and based on matching types – has come into question. While evaluation criteria have a long history in other disciplines, they are new to supply chain strategy evaluation. To help supply chain scholars assess the applicability of evaluation criteria to supply chain strategy, this note proposes a tentative set of criteria and provides insights derived from the authors’ recent experience with their use in two projects. We propose that the use of criteria for the evaluation of supply chain strategy may be a useful alternative, or at least a complement, to the dominant approach. We invite the empirical validation of these proposed criteria by third parties. Fri, 09 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104095 2016-09-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104094 Eliciting and representing a supply chain strategy Perez-Franco, Roberto Purpose. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, to propose a framework that can be used to represent a supply chain strategy for a business unit in a clear and actionable manner; second, to propose a method that can be used to elicit the factual as is supply chain strategy that a business unit currently has in place. Approach. A framework to represent a supply chain strategy for a business unit was developed through an inductive theory-generation approach. A method to elicit the current as is supply chain strategy of a business unit was developed through collaborative management research projects and validated by several third party projects. Findings. The proposed method and framework were used to elicit the as is supply chain strategy of business units in nine different projects, mostly conducted by third parties. In every case, the validity of the result was confirmed by the business unit. Research limitations. The proposed framework and method have limited scalability beyond a single business unit. Also, they may be less useful when the supply chain strategy is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Originality. The paper proposes a novel way to characterize the supply chain strategy of a business unit as a conceptual system. The paper also proposes an innovative approach to tap into the tacit knowledge of the organization to reveal the patterns of decisions underpinning its current supply chain strategy. Fri, 09 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104094 2016-09-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103091 Vessel Strategy for Greenfield Oil & Gas Project Subramanian, Vivek; Nasution, Nursery Alfaridi S. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103091 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103090 Facility Location: Quantitative scenario development for regret based approach Bashir, Tausif A. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103090 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103089 Performance Metrics for Food & Beverage Supply Chains Hashmi, Sara Ahmad; Zhang, Weiwei Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103089 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103088 Improving Traceability for Better Performance Zaidi, Sadaf; Pratiwi, Sekar Widyastuti Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103088 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103084 Cross-Functional Integration in an Engineer-To-Order Supply Chain Shedge, Sachin Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103084 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103083 Decision Framework for Localization of Pharmaceutical Manufacture with Applications to Malaysia and Indonesia Yedluri, Mahesh B.; Veronica Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103083 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103082 Enhancing Performance in a Hub Distribution System Maina, Agnes Wambui; Jacob, Sneha Susan Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103082 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102956 Building a Segmented Cost-To-Serve Model Martin, Tyler Cheever Lewis; Milián, Lucía Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102956 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102955 Unlocking Value added services in Bio-Pharmaceutical Industry Panda, Swagat Kumar; Carrasco, Raul Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102955 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102954 Determining the optimum Mode of Transport (MOT) Bhavsar, Dhrupad; Meri, Jose Luis Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102954 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102953 Facilitating Horizontal Collaboration in Supply Chains Gupta, Rochak; Makowski, Connor Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102953 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102952 Analyzing Sourcing Networks for a Coffee Retailer Bernad, Ludovic; Romero, Lina Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102952 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102950 Strategy for Pharma Business Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study for Kenya Bah, Mohamed; Gauthier, Ana Kathleen; Qi, Wen Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102950 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102949 SAM: Procurement Strategic Solutions Almeida, Arturo; Muñoz, Dhiosa Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102949 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102948 Improving Supply Chain Performance Using Analytics Ahlawat, Vineeta; Martinez, David Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102948 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102947 Inventory Optimization as a Business Advantage Kella, Rajesh; Agrogiannis, Christos Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102947 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102762 RFID in Retail Promotion Chheda, Kavit Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102762 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102761 How Improving Read Rates in the Retail Supply Chain Effects Supplier Value Goldsmith, Jonathan Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102761 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102760 Strategic Network Design in China Using a Hierarchical Decision Making Framework Su, Min Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102760 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102759 Assessing Supply Chain Responsiveness in the Telecom Industry Gómez, Martín Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102759 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102757 Analysis of Supply Chains in the Consumer Packaged Goods Industry Finkelstein, Mark Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102757 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102234 Rethinking your supply chain strategy: a brief guide Perez-Franco, Roberto Rethinking a supply chain strategy is not a trivial problem. Supply chains tend to be rather complex entities, and the act of thinking strategically about them, what we call supply chain 'strategizing', reflects this complexity. The absence of an established answer in the supply chain management literature regarding how to rethink the supply chain strategy of an organization further compounds what is already a daunting problem. Between 2006 and 2016, a team of researchers at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) explored the problem of supply chain strategizing, as part the Supply Chain 2020 Project. After a decade of research in collaboration with world-class organizations, significant progress was made. Many questions remain open, and will continue to be explored by an offshoot of the SC2020 Project, called the MIT Supply Chain Strategy Lab. But we feel it is time to share with the community of supply chain managers the insights we have derived so far on how to re-think the supply chain strategy of an organization. That is the purpose of this text. Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102234 2016-04-10T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102233 Upstream Supply Chain Analysis for Oil Palm Fegoun, Mohamed Amine Ben Chikh El Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102233 2016-04-08T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102232 Impact of E-Sourcing Software on Direct and Indirect Material Procurement Expense of Companies Nathan, Senthil Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102232 2016-04-08T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102156 Optimal Vehicle Routing Chambers, Aijalon; Kothari, Arvind Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102156 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102155 Demystifying Industry 4.0 Implications of Internet of Things and Services for the Chemical Industry Ravi, Rahul; Wu, Li-Chung Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102155 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102154 Developing E-Commerce Supply Chain Capabilities for an FMCG Manufacturer Goel, Abhishek Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102154 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102153 The Optimal Inventory Policy for Perishable Products under Packaging Postponement Alfared, Elmo D.; Esakki, Srinivasan Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102153 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102152 China E-Commerce Operational Model Development Armadas, Alex; Mittal, Charvi Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102152 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102151 Logistics Cost Optimization for Specialty Food Ingredient Industry in Asia Pacific Region Ravirajan, Karthik; See, Tan Ling Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102151 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102150 Regional Distribution Centre Location: Develop and Apply a Framework Prakash, Abhijeet; Goyal, Sumit Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102150 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102149 Supplying Small Shops in Megacities Abdullah, Mohd Hazly; Sankalimba, Chibale Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102149 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102148 Cost and Benefits of Order Flexibility Param, Arun; Chin, Lim Da Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102148 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102147 Assessment Framework for Lead Logistics Provider (L.L.P.) Anand, Archit Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102147 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102146 Balancing Risk and Efficiency of Interaction in an Internal Supply Chain of an Oil Service Company Onuorah, Nnamdi Franklin; Sharma, Yugansh Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102146 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102144 Transport Optimization for 3PL in Emerging Countries Binh, Do Huy Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102144 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102143 Pharmaceutical Cold Chain in Emerging Economics – The Case of China Huang, Yen Chen Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102143 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102142 Demand Leveling by Supply Chain Collaboration Silawanna, Nitipum Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102142 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102141 Framework for Cold Chain Implementation - Vegetable Value Chain Study Raiwani, Shekhar Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102141 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102139 Reducing Variability in Order Quantity Aggarwal, Sanchit Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102139 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102138 Cold Chain Evaluation Framework in a Fragmented Market Kumar, Prashant Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102138 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102137 On-shelf Availability Strategies in Coffee Industry Khakdaman, Masoud Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102137 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102136 Evolution of Mega Suppliers in the Automotive Industry Wang, Jiajun Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102136 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102135 Distribution Facility Location in Humanitarian Logistics Khare, Abhay Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102135 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102133 Measure & Monitor: Improving Identification to Increase Keg Rotations Li, Bian; Perea, Eduardo Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102133 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102132 Transforming Procurement from Minimizing Cost to Maximizing Value Godara, Kanupriya; Marquez, Francisco Rigoberto Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102132 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102131 Improving supply chain resilience for a fashion retailer: A qualitative and quantitative study Robles, Alfonso; Severson, Robert Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102131 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102130 Demand and Supply Stability in the Pharmaceutical Industry Santisteban, Antonio; Estévez, Jorge E. Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102130 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102128 Measuring Supply Chain Compliance in the Pharmaceutical Industry Dandekar, Nikhil; Quintana, Jose Ramon Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102128 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102127 Replenishment Management of smaller outsourced markets for a pharmaceutical organization Viswanath, Aditya Ganesh; Chaqués, Alejandro Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102127 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102126 Application Opportunities of SCM Tools to the Construction Industry Castro, Emilia M. Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102126 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102124 Scenario Planning: A Tool to Prepare for the Future Boyonas, Mark Ismael Vital; Olavarria, Luis Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102124 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102123 Improving Supply Chain Sustainability: A Purchasing Model Based On a Company Pioneering Sustainability Balaban, Okan; Rios, Arieti Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102123 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102122 The Impact of Distribution Center Bypass in the Luxury Fashion Industry Askari, Saman; Mahdavi, Ali Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102122 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102121 Branded Drugs vs. Generics: Different Approaches to Supply Chain Amoah, Samuel Ohene; de Faria, Bruna Correa Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102121 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102120 Improvement of Demand Forecasting in a Petrochemical Company Tovar, Sergio Andrés Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102120 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102119 Innovative mHealth solutions – Impact on the Supply Chain Martínez, Andrea; Paulose, Vinay Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102119 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102118 Demand Forecasting for Medical and Logistical Supply in Humanitarian Relief Ongoing Operations López, Lourdes Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102118 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102117 Supply Chain and Logistics Security Vadillo, Andrés; Levanti, Maria Ioanna Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102117 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102115 Improvement of an existing S&OP process Flores, Javier Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102115 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102114 Online Logistics System (OLS) for the Copper Concentrate Mining Industry Olivares, Patricio; Espinoza, Ricardo Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102114 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102113 Bulk Storage: Postponement of Agricultural By-Products Castro, Hugo Alfredo Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102113 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102112 Spare Parts Management, Repairs and Logistics – Cost Modeling in the Telecommunications Sector Borca, Iulia; Orri, Eduardo Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102112 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102111 Optimal Sourcing Strategies for Managing Supply Chain Risk for Platinum Group Metals in Automotive Catalytic Vargas, Federico Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102111 2016-04-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102110 Improving Store-level Replenishment Policies: A Study of a Medium-Size Toy Retailer Ruiz, Carolina; Smith, Neil F. 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Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102046 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102045 A Summary and Classification of Logistics Hub Research Loong, Jason Lee Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102045 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102044 Optimizing and Rationalizing Product Portfolio for the Poultry Processing Industry Xanthakos, José Carlos Frances Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102044 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102043 Intermodal corridor alternatives between Asia and Central & Eastern Europe De, Sagar Neel Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102043 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102042 Logistics service outsourcing in a multi business firm Saengthawan, Kallaya Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102042 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102041 Implications of Customer Roles in Service Supply Chain Fatodu, Olaiya Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102041 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102040 Customs, Transportation and Warehousing Capabilities required in Piraeus Port to Increase Competition as a Mediterranean Logistics Hub Solomakakis, Ioannis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102040 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102039 The Request for Proposal: Creation, Sharing and Management of Information Parmar, Vinod Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102039 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102038 Improving Downstream Retail Operations Lin, Kevin; Soto, Carlos Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102038 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102037 Managing Supply Chain Risk by Predicting Service Disruptions Kottmann, Matthias; Khabya, Dhawal Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102037 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102036 Strategic Sourcing in Complex Environments Hotte, Hugo; Vaish, Sharad Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102036 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102035 Impact of Trends on Supply Chain Strategies Visualizing Future Developments and their Impact on Corporate Supply Santos, Rafael; Su, Chih-Yi Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102035 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102034 Quantity Matters: Packaging and Pallet Design for Core Relief Items Used for Humanitarian Aid Operations Querido, Maria Bea Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102034 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102033 Balancing Supplier Portfolio in a Move Eastern & Southern Europe Context Lee, Seungyeop Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102033 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102032 End-to-end supply chain performance management system Lee, Wheedong; Prades, Raúl Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102032 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102031 Supply Chain Network Design for Sub-Saharan Africa Kehinde, Adekunle; Machado, Andrew Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102031 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102030 Supply Chain Design and Postponement Opportunities Gupta, Shishir Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102030 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102029 Reduction of Total Cycle Time and Impact of Service Level on Working Capital for a Chemical Company Ghatak, Arunangshu; Liu, Chenyao Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102029 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102028 Key Factors That Affect the Aftermarket Demand Forecasts Davtyan, Gevorg Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102028 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102027 Centralized Demand-Supply Planning for Global Humanitarian Operations Veale, Rowan Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102027 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102026 Reverse Logistics Model for a Remanufacturing Business in the European Region Srinivasan, Sudha; Venetos, Athanasios A. Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102026 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102025 Developing a Supply Base Rationalization Tool for a Global Organization Sharma, Siddharth; Swapp, Richard Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102025 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102024 Risk Mitigation in Time and Temperature Sensitive Shipments in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry Sharaiha, Samer; Pastor, Luis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102024 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102023 Improving Inventory Management in Non-Emergency Humanitarian Aid Operations Robbins-Penniman, Sarah Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102023 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102022 Segmentation Strategies in Supply Chain Ejiofoh, Zoltan; Novillo, Ana Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102022 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102021 Linking Customer Perceptions and Supply Chain Efficiency Punjabi, Lavina; Li, Haode Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102021 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102020 Supply Chain Network Design: Key Factors for the Retail Industry Kim, Young; Radhakrishnan, Vivek Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102020 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102019 Financial Impact of changing a recycling company’s collection process Guzman, Matias Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102019 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102018 Transforming Supply Chain Through Collaboration Godara, Amit; Llobet, Alberto Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102018 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102017 Risk-Based Approach for Efficient and Secure Trade in Global Supply Chains - Impact on 3PL Operations Ciprés, Carolina Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102017 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102016 Impact of End-to-End Lead Time on Service Level and Working Capital in a Pharmaceutical Company Girsch, Thilo; Bautista, Kristin Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102016 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102015 Linking Financial Planning to Demand Planning Volosciuc, Pavel; Sista, Phani Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102015 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102014 A Comparative Analysis of In-Market Pharmaceutical Distribution Channel Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case study of Kenya Riungu, James Mwenda Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102014 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102013 A Decision Framework for Setting an Effective Stock Policy at MedOrg Supply Pua, Arturo Jay Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102013 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102012 Supply Chain Integration and Customer Relationship Orientation McDuling, Chris Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102012 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102011 Modeling an Efficient Planning Methodology in Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Hanson, Susan E.; He, Yunan Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102011 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102010 Packaging Design’s Impact on Sales and Supply Chain in the Consumer Goods Industry Gross, Daniel; Parfenov, Sergey Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102010 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102009 Improving the sourcing strategy for a humanitarian organization Galanova, Nikolina; Restrepo, Daniela Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102009 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102008 Innovative Distribution Channels for the Pharmaceutical Industry in Europe: Analysis and first assessment of different Home Care & Home Delivery models Chiang, Lucas; Rodriguez, Gustavo Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102008 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102007 Portfolio of Strategies for Optimal Procurement of Platinum Group Metals (PGM) in the Automotive Industry Zachariah, Leo Tom; Chang, Jihwang Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102007 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102006 Optimizing Operations of a Pharmaceutical Regional Distribution Hub under Varying Regulatory Environments Arafat, Rami; Margarucci, Michael A., II Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102006 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102005 Assessing the Potential Value Contribution of a High-Volume Humanitarian Distributor of WASH Items to Customers Aligo, Aman; Serene, Travis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102005 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102004 Health Financing and Supply Chain Coordination in Resource Constrained Settings Akili, Emmanuel Allan Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102004 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102003 Auditing Models for Humanitarian Supply Chains Agostinho, Camilla Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102003 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102002 Engine spare parts distribution strategy in Africa Achilov, Dilshod; Biswas, Sharmishtha Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102002 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102001 Design of Closed Loop Supply Chain Under Uncertainties Wei, Jinrong Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102001 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102000 The Environmental Impact of Logistics: Evaluating and Reducing the Environmental Impact of Transportation and Warehousing by Using the Example of a Pharmaceutical Company Thomas, Noelle A.; Weber, Katharina A. Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102000 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101999 Push versus Pull Systems: A Case Study of a Humanitarian Supply Chain Ruvalcaba, Karla Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101999 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101998 Sourcing Strategies for a Photovoltaic Power Plant Ponnuswamy, Mani Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101998 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101997 A Comparative Analysis of In-Market Pharmaceutical Distribution Channel Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa Mankartah, Gifty Esi Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101997 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101996 Postponement Strategies for Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Ladsaongikar, Sumeet; Martinez, Roberto Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101996 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101995 Classification of SKUs as a Way to Improve Company Performance: A Case Study from the Telecommunication Industry Kasirava, Yuliya; Lee, HanCheol Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101995 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101994 Strategic Forecasting of Vaccine Adoption by GAVI-Eligible Countries Kabiling, Wiko Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101994 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101993 Supply Chain Integration and Inter-organizational Learning Gradin, Samuel; Jansson, Vegard Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101993 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101992 Improving Chemicals Supply Chain Management Through Traceability Technologies Diaz, Jesus; Diaz, Nelson Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101992 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101991 Impact of Point of Sale Data on Demand Planning for a Two Level Supply Chain Artiñano, Luis Diego; Keerthi, Kavita Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101991 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101990 The Influence of Recession and Fuel Prices on Network Design of a Logistics Company in Spain Capitanachi, Jorge; Theodorou, Ioannis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101990 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101989 Estimating the Benefits of Framework Contracting in Public Health Commodity Purchasing Yip, Jessica Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101989 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101988 Sustainable Emerging Market Strategies for Pharmaceutical Companies – A Think Tank Approach Schick, Florian Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101988 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101987 Measuring Carbon Footprint of Transportation Luengo, Aurora; Parikh, Nimesh Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101987 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101986 Data Warehouse – Enabled Supply Chain Analytics Lourantou, Ioanna Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101986 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101985 An Analysis of Human Intervention on Inventory Decisions Lasry, Salomon Daniel Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101985 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101984 A Revenue Management Analysis of a High Speed Rail Fare System using a Transaction Data Based Network Simulation Model Joiner, Steve Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101984 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101983 Analysis of Out of Stock and Ways to counter it in Apparel Retail Sector Daspal, Debasis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101983 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101982 European Distribution and Warehouse Review Cueva, Omar; Escobedo, Gerardo Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101982 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101981 Reverse Factoring Adoption Chitoshia, Abhimanyu Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101981 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101980 Global Supply Chains: Tariff and Duties Optimization Sarmiento, Paola; Atienza, Patricia Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101980 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101977 Robust Supply Chains for Humanitarian Aid in Africa Ashagbley, Victor Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101977 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101976 Supply Chain Strategy Development for the Chinese Solar Energy Industry: A Focus on Thin Film Photovoltaic Manufacturers Li, Zhixing Linda Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101976 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101974 Informing Creation of a Stockpile to Improve Supply to Post-Emergency Humanitarian Operations Allen, Ann; Llevat, Roger Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101974 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101973 Benchmarking Manufacturing in Spain Vázquez, Hernán Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101973 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101972 Supply Chain 2020: How changing macroeconomic factors affect the supply chain network design of an apparel company York, Mary Margaret Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101972 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101971 Forecasting Demand for New Generation Anti-Malarial Drugs Ongola, May Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101971 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101970 Improving Global Health Impact Through Tailored Supply Chains: A Case Study of Ghana Lai, Chiamin; Laverty, Michael Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101970 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101969 Consolidation of Distribution Centers: An Analysis of Cost Parameters Jain, Mukul Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101969 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101968 Future Supply Networks at Hewlett Packard Fioravanti, Reinaldo Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101968 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101967 Proactive Management of Drug Recalls in Resource-Limited Settings: Implementation of Statistical Sampling Methods in a Pharmacovigilance Study Falcón, Virginia Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101967 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101966 Future Supply Networks: Strategizing Locations of Suppliers Based on Software Simulations Dudarecha, Naveen Chandra Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101966 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101965 Improving Spatial Accessibility to Antiretroviral Treatments for HIV/AIDS Carr, Christopher Charles; Jallah, James Dorbor Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101965 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101964 Reallocation of in-transit inventory in centralized replenishment systems with continuous review Bisilkas, Marios Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101964 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101963 Revenue Management in the Railroad Industry: A Semi-dynamic Solution Arias, Carlos E. Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101963 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101962 An Analysis of Opportunities for Increasing Donation Quantity and Quality by Food Retailers in Spain and India Agarwal, Puneet Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101962 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101961 Shelter Procurement Strategies for Humanitarian Organizations: Global vs. Local Walsh, Kathleen Jane Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101961 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101960 Assessment of retrofitting containers into instant health care outpatient units Varela, Maria Laura Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101960 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101959 Economic Order Quantity and the value of the firm: perpetuities in a world without leverage cost Serrano, Alejandro Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101959 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101958 Demand Management for Substitute Products Based on Inventory Levels Tsana, Eleni-Serafeimia Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101958 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101956 IT Governance issues in apparel supply chains Ehsani, Ehsan Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101956 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101955 Optimal channel design for electronic product returns in their useful lifecycle Cebrián, Francisco Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101955 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101954 Logistics Parks in China: Case Studies and the Role of the Government Wu, Yi-Chih Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101954 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101953 Elements, Feasibility and Coordination Mechanisms of IP Soybean Supply Chains Weaver, Nathan Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101953 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101952 Buffer Planning and Stock Positioning at Lucent Technologies EMEA Wang, Longhai Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101952 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101951 Investigation of dry port opportunities via intermodal operations mapping: An application to the East Asia-Europe trade route Tsilingiris, Panagiotis S. Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101951 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101950 Fading Boundaries between Efficient and Responsive Supply Chains Richards, Nancy Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101950 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101949 PLAZA: A Logistics Park Case Study Paparo, Francesca Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101949 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101948 International Cargo via Regional Airports: Case Study of Zaragoza Airport Milenković, Marija Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101948 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101947 The Theory and Reality of Newsboy Contracts in the US North-Shea, Micah A. Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101947 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101946 Transportation Cost Volatility and Mode Choice Mehta, Anand Mahendra Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101946 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101945 An Information System Platform for Tracking Technologies in PLAZA Matus, Marvin; Torres, Carlos Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101945 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101944 Value of Advanced Order Information in Sequence Dependent Make-To-Order Manufacturing Khismetov, Marat Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101944 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101943 Collaborative Demand Planning in Telecommunications: Lucent Technologies and Their ADSL Switch Supply Chain Clements, Silas Wade Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101943 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101942 1. Enabling Rapid Capture of Information Technology Opportunities: A Study of Opportunity Management in a Supply Chain Butler, Joseph Louis Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101942 2016-03-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101931 The Influenza Vaccine Supply Chain: Structure, Risk, and Coordination Williams, David George Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101931 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101930 Strategic Procurement Outsourcing Assessment of Direct Material at Lucent EMEA Yanhua, Wang Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101930 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101928 Strategic Supply Chain Network Design for a New Product Line at Sun Microsystems, Inc Tatashina, Anna Y. Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101928 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101927 Supply Chain Excellence in the Retail Industry METRO AG – A Case Study Schranz-Whitaker, Manuela Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101927 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101926 Development of an RFID-Enabled Supply Chain Process Monitoring and Command Center Samii, Amir Behzad Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101926 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101924 Excellent Supply Chains in The Oil Industry: Royal Dutch/Shell Röthlisberger, Stefan Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101924 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101923 Strategic Deployment of Specialized Testing and Remanufacturing in a Telecommunications Supply Chain Pruett, Joseph; Thiessen, Brett Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101923 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101922 Supply Chain Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Novartis – A Case Study Mukherjee, Gourav Narayan Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101922 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101920 The Beer Game Revisited: Creating a Model for Collaboration De Jonge, Tanner Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101920 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101919 Outsource/Offshore of Supply Chain Analytics D'souza, Nitin Salvio Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101919 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101918 Excellence in European Apparel Supply Chains: Zara Chu, Phyllis Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101918 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101917 SC2020: Toyota Production System & Supply Chain Brown, Macharia Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101917 2016-03-30T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101616 Rethinking supply chain strategy as a conceptual system Perez-Franco, Roberto; Phadnis, Shardul; Caplice, Chris; Sheffi, Yossi Changes to the strategy, context or environment of a business unit may necessitate a revision of its supply chain strategy. However, rethinking a supply chain strategy is not an easy problem, and has no clear answer in the specialized literature. Some fundamental questions about supply chain strategizing - i.e., the process of doing supply chain strategy - have been largely ignored, while others have been answered with overly-simplistic type- and-match approaches of unclear validity. In this paper, we present a holistic approach to supply-chain strategizing, called Conceptual System Assessment and Reformulation (CSAR), we have developed through a series of collaborative management research projects over a decade. This paper presents the key ideas of CSAR, and explains how it can be used to capture, evaluate and reformulate the supply chain strategy of a business unit. We argue that these ideas can serve as a first step towards a theory of supply chain strategy. Finally, we demonstrate the practical merits of CSAR by presenting the case of a large world-class corporation that used the approach as a starting point for an initiative to rethink the supply chain strategy of most of its business units. Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101616 2016-03-07T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100086 A supply network resiliency assessment framework Siu, Jaspar (Jaspar W.); Stephen, Santosh Supply chain resiliency is a relatively new field within supply chain management. Many quantitative and qualitative resiliency frameworks are available. However, there is a need for a hybrid framework that provides a more comprehensive resiliency assessment. In this thesis, we attempt to synthesize important features from different assessment frameworks and develop a hybrid resiliency assessment framework that more comprehensively addresses resiliency assessment. Our proposed framework combines quantitative assessment with a qualitative assessment to create a single Balanced Scorecard of Resiliency (BSR). We deployed the quantitative assessment of the BSR framework in a single commodity supply chain of ABC Company, and were able to compute the expected business impact risk of each node. We also aggregated across multiple nodes to assess the expected business impacts of each of the facilities, suppliers and locations of ABC Company's supply chain, and identify the critical entities in the supply chain for mitigation planning. For the critical facilities, suppliers, and locations, we developed response curves of the expected business impact for key parameters to identify the best mitigation options and the extent of investments. Lastly, we used a supply chain visualization tool called Sourcemap to visualize the expected business impact risk in both a map view and supply network view. Our quantitative assessment of resiliency allowed us to gain insights and generate recommendations for improving ABC Company's supply chain resiliency. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 90-91). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100086 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100085 Measurement and evaluation of retail promotions Kalenderski, Asen (Asen Georgiev); Sanivarapu, Satya Promotions involve a complicated interplay of factors and are a result of a synchronized sequence of activities between manufacturers and retailers. The outcome of promotions pivot on several elements beyond the control of any one party in the supply chain. 'How' a promotion performed has a more straight forward answer than 'Why' a promotion performed a certain way. This research attempts to define a quantitative methodology to measure performance of promotions and reveal insights to consumer product manufacturers and retailers that will help answer the 'How' and the 'Why' of promotions. The measures used are simple, but the combination of analysis creates a complex structure of many dimensions that reveals intricate insights into the functioning of the supply chain, the most important asset in executing promotions. We present to you a three dimensional framework termed the 'Promotion Performance Cuboid' with structural elements consisting of three foundational supply chain measures, inventory, stockouts, and performance of sales against target forecasts. The measures when viewed together through the Promotion Performance Cuboid, tell a revealing story of the underlying dynamics of promotions and the elements that actually control promotional become lucid. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 70-72). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100085 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100082 Financing medicine's last mile in Uganda : exploring linkages between patient access to medicine and supply chain access to finance Dokmo, Charles Alexander; Patel, Nipun Rajni Pharmaceutical companies operating in Africa are well positioned to contribute to the United Nations' ongoing efforts to improve access to medicine in Africa. This thesis explores how access to finance for businesses in the Ugandan private pharmaceutical supply chain affects access to medicine for end patients. Specifically, we consider three components of access to medicine-payment affordability, on-shelf availability, and geographic accessibility-and how each might be affected by supply chain financing. For payment affordability, we leverage field data via interviews with two distributors, two wholesalers and ten retail pharmacies in Uganda. We use the data to model free cash flows; the estimates gathered from interviewees are modeled with PERT distributions to capture variability in cash flows. For on-shelf availability, we explore methods of categorizing operational uncertainties associated with demand and working capital to inform how financing can improve on-shelf availability. For geographic accessibility, we analyze density in each district of retail pharmacies and financial lending institutions using data visualization. Our analyses reveal several key findings. First, retailers suffer substantial working capital constraints leading to constant product stockouts. Increasing access to working capital for retailers, combined with supply chain management training, may help mitigate stockouts and increase accessibility of medicines for patients. Second, literature on operational uncertainty and disruptions provides a framework for how to allocate financing to help improve on-shelf availability. Finally, a substantial portion of Uganda is still largely underserved in terms of pharmaceutical retail outlets and financial lending services. Our analyses fill a gap in the literature concerning how to approach improving patient access to medicine by financing pharmaceutical supply chain improvements. Our analyses serve as a basis for pharmaceutical companies looking to contribute to improving access to medicine in Africa. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 67-71). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100082 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100081 Distribution network optimization in the uniform rental industry Chopyak, Ann-Marie; Lee, Haotian Optimization models are a commonly used tool to identify cost efficient network flows. Complexity increases when various products move across different paths and transportation modes within one network. To address the challenges posed by this complexity, this thesis develops a mixed integer linear programming model for a uniform rental company. The company's product families are routed through intermediary distribution centers, while others bypass these points and move directly to a regional distribution center. Various simulations were run with the objective of minimizing fixed costs, warehousing, inventory and transportation expenses. The function was constrained by flow balance, demand and capacity constraints. The optimal solution proposed a network that used less facilities than currently operated within the company, and some in new locations due to transportation cost savings. As volume increased, the network structure continued to shift further from the company's current structure. Demand increased the influence of variable rates, while transportation lane rates were a significant factor in every version of the model run. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 41-42). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100081 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100079 Roadmap for commodity sourcing strategy Chong, Wenzheng; Lai, Yuwen The procurement and sourcing group of OG company was tasked to systematically forecast, design and develop the future state of the company's next generation supply base. The main objective is to anticipate the preferred locations to source commodities such as machine parts from in the near future. In response to that objective, the purpose of this thesis is to identify the relevant group decision drivers that consist of political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal and business internal factors that the procurement and sourcing group are evaluating. These drivers were then utilized to develop a tool that is able to quantify, balance and combine the specified drivers so as to determine the overall alignment to the company's procurement and sourcing strategy. This tool also seeks to predict the near-term global competitiveness of oilfield services equipment manufacturing by country. Through on-site interviews, literature review, public data collection and statistical analysis, we were able to identify and specify top drivers that were most relevant to the decisionmaking process of managers in procurement and sourcing group for an oil & gas company. Based on the specified drivers, our analysis identified the top ranked countries using a hierarchical analytical process which was then used to validate the company's current sourcing strategy. Building on this analysis, we propose a framework that determines OG company's next generation supply base. The framework proposed can serve as an organizational development approach and decision-making tool which is useful in uncovering the underlying motivations of the procurement and sourcing managers. The tool also provides qualitative recommendations through a quantitative stepwise approach. The methodology of identifying and quantifying drivers as described in our thesis is especially relevant to industrial manufacturing companies with a global manufacturing footprint. We conclude with the limitations of the framework and potential avenues for future research. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 70-71). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100079 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99820 E-Commerce cold chain fulfillment Yakzan, Mounir; Nelson, Jordan A challenging part of E-Commerce for perishable consumer packaged goods (PCPG) is the fulfillment. Given the fragile nature of the items shipped, they require a low cost, effective cold chain fulfillment method so as to keep integrity, ensure speed at an affordable low cost for the end consumer. Our research, in partnership with one of the big PCPG items, addressed four aspects of the fulfillment process: Shipments routing, return process, competitive research and packaging techniques. Through a research process, we looked at shipment routing techniques for network optimization and density solutions, return process through different nodes in the supply chain, competitive research looking E-Commerce websites that sell PCPG products and comparing each of them to understand their underlying pricing methods and looked at current packaging techniques, current available and future technologies in packaging. We scored each of the aspects based on three KPIs, speed, quality and cost; we put forth several combinations that focused on each KPI by itself and aimed at maximizing speed or quality or minimizing cost. This research serves to direct focus based on the KPI desired on the aspects that help optimize said KPI and can be generalized to other E-Commerce products requiring cold chain delivery. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-73). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99820 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99818 The impact of SKU and network complexity on inventory levels McCord, Joseph (Joseph Cole); Novoa Garnica, David Many firms introduce new distinct products more quickly than they remove old products, and some firms have also established larger distribution networks to increase service levels or support new markets. This research applies ordinary least-squares regression and a simulation approach to identify the relationship between increased complexity and inventory levels relative to demand for a major fast-moving consumer goods company. For this research complexity is defined as the number of SKUs in a brand and the number of stocking locations for an SKU. We find that while increased complexity does translate into increased demand variability, it does not correspond to higher inventory levels. While this research does not isolate the exact reason for this disconnect, it could relate to the degree to which inventory targets recommended by an optimization software are adhered to by planning staff. For similar companies which are navigating inventory cost and complexity pressures, the research implies that there may not be a direct relationship if the company does not strictly execute an inventory policy which bases safety stock levels on forecast error. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 42). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99818 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99815 Quantifying the impact of deployment practices on interplant freight volatility Ma, Kurn; Kumar, Manish As the US economy recovers from the recession of 2008, demand for freight transportation is getting stronger. However, the trucking industry is not ready to take on this growth in volume due to a shortage of truck drivers. From a shipper's perspective, availability of transportation is an important concern that needs to be addressed to ensure customer satisfaction, realize growth and keep costs down. Shippers can enhance their carriers' ability to provide consistent trucking capacity by reducing the variability of freight demand. This thesis creates a simulation model of deployment processes at a consumer packaged goods company to evaluate relationship between transportation variability and various management levers. Through the analysis of the simulation runs, the effects of management levers on the freight volatility are quantified. The findings of the research show that actively limiting the truckloads sent downstream, and thus eliminating the freight volatility through internal policies is a potential solution. The thesis concludes by presenting the benefits and trade-offs of this approach on the logistics costs of the sponsor company. If the company sticks to the current policy of immediate shipment as the need arises, the thesis shows that the best deployment schedule is a bi-weekly one. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-46). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99815 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99810 Operationalizing demand forecasts in the warehouse Li, Dan, Ph. D. University of Rochester; Kim, Kyung Demand planning affects the subsequent business activities including distribution center operational planning and management. Today's competitive environment requires distribution centers to rapidly respond to changes in the quantity and nature of demand. For the distribution center, accurate forecasts will help managers to accordingly plan operational activities. In the present thesis, we evaluate the plausibility of leveraging the SKU level forecast to predict equivalent operational activities in the warehouse. Through literature review, we identified the key drivers in distribution center operation and management. We further chose outbound shipment picking time as our measurement to perform the evaluation between demand forecast and actual warehouse shipments. The thesis concludes with the presentation of results of the evaluation discussions regarding the rolling horizon based forecast and the potential areas to improve the accuracy. This work will help warehouse managers to perform root cause analysis to examine the discrepancy between the units/labor forecast and actual units/labor. Our work will also help warehouses achieve greater operational efficiency. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-49). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99810 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99809 Distribution channel for Moroccan artisans El Jebbari, Zyad The handicraft sector in Morocco represents more than 9% of the nation's GDP and employs 2.3 million people. However, despite their talent and expertise, Morocco's artisans are struggling to reach markets other than local regional or national markets. The main distribution model used so far has been the classic retail distribution model, which does not add value to the artisans' work, with most downstream actors playing the role of the middlemen. Other Ecommerce models such as the marketplace model or the crowdfunding model did not solve all the issues faced by artisans and customers. This paper provides the framework for a new distribution channel for Moroccan artisans to improve the efficiency of the value chain linking them to the American consumer by eliminating all unnecessary steps, overhead, and overall inefficiencies of the current distribution models. We first identify the models that are currently used to bring the artisans' crafts to the end consumer in developed markets: the market place (used by the platform Etsy), the crowdfunding model and the classic retail distribution model involving middlemen. We assessed the benefits of all the models by developing a new framework allowing to score each one of them. We then switched our focus to a hybrid model: a crowdfunding platform where the company partners with the artisans to align the different stakeholders' interests. To the extent of our knowledge, this model has not been used yet. It was found that our methodology could help artisans access international markets more efficiently. We finished by determining the optimal strategy using social media to market this platform and engage more efficiently potential customers. Keywords: handicraft, supply chain, crowdfunding, retail, social network marketing. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages [72]-[74]). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99809 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99808 Data-driven risk assessment for truckload service providers Chittella, Sriram Kishore; Machado Teixeira, Marcos Non-asset backed third-party logistics companies provide shippers access to a flexible source of capacity through transportation carrier spot market. The increased volatility in the trucking spot market rates is turning the 3PL businesses more risky and complex. To maximize profitability, a better understanding of the risk and the volatility patterns across the different geographies, time periods and other factors are investigated based on three years of real spot market data from a major 3PL company in US. Throughout this research we investigate the nature of trucking spot market volatility to allow truckload service providers to reduce their risk when setting long-term contracts. Using three different measures of volatility we are able to assess the company's risk profile and arise with insights to improve truckload service providers' business. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-79). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99808 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99807 Factors influencing tier 2 supply chain risk data collection Buscher, Stephanie Ann; Poyato Ayuso, Ángel Natural disasters such as the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan in 2011 can have catastrophic effects on businesses. This type of unexpected event can cause millions of dollars in damages, lost sales and can impact company stock performance. With 39% of supply disruptions occurring at indirect suppliers, companies can no longer ignore their supply networks when determining supply chain risk. Unlike measuring risk within a single company, measuring the risk of a network requires collaboration amongst all players. This research aims to mitigate the complexity of data collection through the understanding of the factors that influence supply chain risk data collection. Factors vary throughout different players in the networks. Internally, supply chain transparency must be indoctrinated in the culture of the executing company. Necessary parties must be well informed and incentivized to take part in this labor intensive exercise. By indoctrinating transparency into the culture, companies legitimize this initiative to both employees and suppliers. Through a series of conversations held with suppliers, the research conducted in this thesis identifies the internal and external factors that determine success in supply chain risk data collection. Keywords: Supply chain risk management, supply chain transparency, data collection, vendor collaboration. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 50-52). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99807 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99806 Improving automotive battery sales forecast Bulusu, Vinod; Kim, Haekyun Improvement in sales forecasting allows firms not only to respond quickly to customers' needs but also to reduce inventory costs, ultimately increasing their profits. Sales forecasts have been studied extensively to improve their accuracy in many different fields. However, for automotive batteries, it is very difficult to develop a highly accurate forecast model because many variables need to be considered and their correlations are complex. Additionally, current sales forecasts are derived from historical data and thus do not include any other causal factor analysis. In this study we applied causal factor analysis to determine how the forecast accuracy could be improved. We focused on understanding the relationship between temperature and sales. Using regression modelling, we found that there is a quadratic relationship between temperature and battery sales. We validated the model by comparing the actual and predicted sales for various geographies and times. We concluded that the model is more robust for predicting sales across various times than through various geographies. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-55). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99806 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99805 The logistics of creativity Brady, Collin (Collin Patrick); Williams, Joseph H Retail fashion sales inherently involve the promotion and presentation of products that need to be differentiated from all other products in the crowded market. While the products themselves can exhibit some unique characteristics, the actual presentation of the products can help to make them appear unique and lend additional perceived value to them so that consumers will purchase them. Such a marketing technique requires an extreme commitment to creativity in terms of the methods of display and the associated non-sale items used to showcase the products available for purchase. For a particular fashion retailer, this manifests itself in the acquisition of specialty items that often become permanent elements of the display inventory. The commitment to the creative process is often at odds with the logistics required to procure, transport, install and store the display items which has resulted in a number of critical issues for the retailer. The resulting operational difficulties have reduced efficiency and increased the time required for logistics operations, and create unsafe conditions for the logistics team members. This thesis takes a closer look at the problem and its root causes, and suggests specific actions to ameliorate the current circumstances and build a foundation for improved operations in the future. Through analysis of mini-case studies and the behavioral aspects behind them, the thesis determines the root causes of the issues and identifies strategies to address them. The thesis identifies the overcrowded warehouse as the nexus between the creative and logistics teams and addresses the capacity issue within as the quintessential symptom of the problems facing the retailer. The thesis concludes by detailing recommendations for process improvement and the benefits therein. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 112-114). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99805 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99804 An analytical model to increase air volumes and minimize the Net Achieved Rate in air freight transportation Blomberg, Per Niklas; Gras Alomá, Ramon Airfreight forwarding companies must develop accurate forecasting tools to analyze the suitability and attractiveness of each incoming bidding process, to decide whether to participate in a tender and how to define the optimal commercial strategy. The "1:6" weight/volume ratio establishes that whenever the cargo ratio is different from 1:6 (1m3:167 kg) forwarders must pay the higher rate: either volume or weight. Given the main constraints in terms of volumetric capacity and maximum weight per volumetric unit, the most profitable business opportunities consist of combining in the same load compatible products with different densities. The main target is to come close as possible to the desired 1:6 ratio, to minimize the average price per load. To remain competitive, airfreight forwarding firms must improve their consolidation techniques, to combine in the same load cargo with compatible densities. The availability of robust analytical resources will allow airfreight industry companies to improve their rate of success, in terms of enhancing both efficiency (by increasing air volumes and densities) and profitability (by minimizing the Net Achieved Rate). This thesis develops an analytical model based on meaningful metrics to provide airfreight forwarders with an accurate and solid forecasting tool to select the bids under consideration that best match with their current portfolio in terms of air volume usage for a given origin-destination lane. It also predicts breakeven rates to increase profitability by minimizing the Net Achieved Rate. Furthermore, the model provides a series of metrics and visualization tools to help air freight forwarding companies to improve their understanding of their current portfolio for a given origin-destination lane and define their commercial strategy with respect to air freight cargo tenders. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; "June 2015." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-94). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99804 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99803 Optimal Multi-Temperature delivery frequency for small format stores Barooah, Mayurpankhi; Shin, Seung Hwan Retailers are exploring more efficient ways to deliver to small format stores that demand frequent and small volume deliveries from Distribution Centers. The need to deliver products at different temperatures, viz. Ambient, Refrigerated and Frozen, reduces volumes that need to be delivered for each product category. One way to make delivery more effective is to use Multi- Temperature Trailers (MTT) that can consolidate demand for products at different temperatures onto a single truck, thereby reducing the number of trips and stops while delivering to small format stores. This thesis explores delivery policy options and the usage of MTT to deliver to small format stores and seeks to define an optimal strategy for such deliveries. The research compares the cost and frequency of delivery for different delivery policy options to help identify the most suitable delivery policy. Demand and distance data for a group of small format stores of a large retailer were used as inputs into the analysis. Apart from the base scenario, the analysis considers several other scenarios, providing insights that can be extended beyond the current stores and geography. In general, the analysis reveals that usage of Multi- Temperature trailers can provide significant cost and operational advantages over Single Temperature trailers for deliveries to small format stores. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 84-86). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99803 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99802 Improving supply chain agility of a medical device Manufacturer Bai, Xinye; Rosenberg, Yaniv This thesis focuses on a medical device manufacturer, DeCo, which offers surgical instruments to customers at no cost in order to facilitate the sale of implantable products that require the use of such instruments. DeCo is facing challenges in managing the supply chain for these outsourced instruments, such as long lead times, inaccurate forecasting, and excess inventory. Deco is interested in building a more responsive supply chain. To this end, our thesis investigated strategies to increase the supply chain agility by realizing opportunities in information flows, material movement, and channel alignment to achieve shorter lead time, lower inventory levels, and higher levels of service. We conducted interviews and analyzed forecast, inventory, and lead time data files to evaluate the company's supply chain agility in terms of key attributes such as: Inventory management, supply chain visibility, forecast, distribution channel management, supplier manufacturing flexibility, forecast, level of service, lead-time, and product lifecycle. Gaps between the current state and an agile supply chain were identified, and recommendations were made based on these weaknesses. Gaps in the supply chain were divided into three categories: information barriers, operational inflexibilities, and supply chain misalignments. Similarly, our recommendations were broken up into three main groups: Distributor strategies, supplier strategies, and DeCo's practices. By improving supply chain visibility, Deco can cut lead time to customers and significantly lower inventory. By gaining operational flexibility, DeCo can cut lead time from suppliers by 50%, avoid excess ordering due to minimum order quantity, and cut cost per unit. Key recommendations to achieve agility were to build a database of inventory at distributors' warehouses and implement a process to ship instruments between these warehouses; and to work with suppliers to build dedicated capacity on the production floor. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 68-69). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99802 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99801 Towards a consumer-oriented supply chain Andrianopoulos, Panagiotis, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Pérez Wario, Hector Rafael The current consumer products industry is primarily designed as a customer oriented supply chain; this means that it is designed to fulfill orders from the distribution centers or stores of the retailers. The question posed by retailers and vendors is how might a consumer (not customer) oriented supply chain be defined and designed in a way which retailers and vendors could move towards it in the future? Our methodology consisted of interviews with key stakeholders and industry experts, a literature research, value stream mapping as well as data analysis of historical sales and shipments between a retailer and a vendor that sponsored the project. As a result of our research, we conclude that a consumer oriented supply chain is defined as a supply chain that is triggered by consumer demand data and it implements strong collaboration between the retailer and the vendor, in order to achieve a more efficient response to the consumer needs. A series of interviews with key stakeholders revealed that one of the most important parts of the collaboration is forecasting. Our data analysis depicts that a single, synchronized forecasting of the consumer demand would help both parties operate in a more efficient and collaborative way. As final deliverable we propose a roadmap with short-term and long-term steps necessary to design a consumer oriented supply chain. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 75-78). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99801 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99800 Relationship between price and performance : an analysis of the US trucking market Amiryan, Nane, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Bhattacharjee, Sharmistha This thesis focuses on the study of the carrier-shipper relationships in the US trucking market. It uses data provided by a leading third party logistics (3PL) company to explore and determine whether a relationship exists between the prices charged by the carriers and the performance that they provide to the shippers. The performance metrics defined in the thesis are measured in three dimensions: on time pick-up, on time delivery, and acceptance ratio. The research uses ordinary least square (OLS) regression to study the effect of the performance parameters on the cost per load of a shipment. The research demonstrates that there is a mild relationship between on time delivery performance and price. With increase in on-time delivery performance, the price increases till a threshold is reached, beyond which it stabilizes. We found that a relationship exists between on-time pick-up and delivery. Since carriers who pick up late are able to deliver on time 80% of the times, the research could not find a direct relationship between on-time pick-up and price. The research also found that increased lane loyalty from a shipper to a carrier can lead to lower rates. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-72). Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99800 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92655 Perfecting visibility with retailer data Daniele Primavera; Shi, Hang This thesis investigates the utility of using retailer point of sales (POS) data in the production planning process of a consumer-packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing company. The quantitative measurements of utility include the improvement of production forecasting, reduction of inventory costs, and reduction of equipment changeover costs. Qualitatively, we evaluate the effectiveness of using POS to drive a more collaborative relationship between the retailer and the manufacturer. The POS data include items sold, store inventory, and warehouse inventory of a retail partner for specific stock keeping units (SKUs) produced by the manufacturer. We develop production-planning models by combining POS data with customer orders, current production plans, and existing inventory positions to optimize manufacturing and inventory costs. The results illustrate that if the aggregate volume of customer orders approximately equaled to that of the POS, then the integration of POS data into manufacturing planning offers opportunities to reduce production and inventory costs. The analysis also points to situations where POS data and customer orders vary significantly; in these situations the proposed production-planning model does not apply, but the POS data provide useful evidence for aligning plans between the manufacturer and the retailer. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 66-67). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92655 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92647 Strategy for direct to store delivery Panditrao, Amit; Adiraju, Kishore The thesis attempts to answer the question which is commonly asked by retailers and manufacturers - what's the best way to deliver a product to the store? Specifically the thesis tries to understand and evaluate the impact on transportation and safety stock when a manufacturer transitions from a 100% DC delivery method to 100% Direct-To-Store (DTS) method. Drawing on the results of a case study on Niagara bottling, a leading private brand water bottle manufacturer in US, the thesis recommends strategies to minimize the cost impacts on safety stock and transportation. We developed the inventory and transportation models using one key product and two customers. Using sensitivity analysis and simulation technique, we tried to find the behavior of the transportation costs and safety stock at incremental phases during 100% DC to 100% DTS transition. The findings showed that transportation costs increase by 40% or more and dominate the cost structure as compared to safety stock cost changes. Secondly, we found that increasing order sizes or combining two customers on the route can lower the transportation costs by 4%. From an inventory standpoint, a shorter lead time reduced the safety stock in the total supply chain by as much as 26%. Since a shorter lead time increases the manufacturer's safety stock, he needs to develop a benefit-sharing contract with the retailer so as to create a winwin situation for both. Beyond a certain point (typically below lead time of 3 days), the transportation costs can rise and offset any safety stock savings. Finally, we observed that a collaborative forecasting process will benefit the supply chain in reducing safety stock by as much as 72%. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 62). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92647 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92646 Segmentation strategies in urban retail : an application to nanostores in Bogota Pan, Xiaodan M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology This research analyzes how to apply segmentation strategies in the nanostore retail market, focusing on a pilot company located in Bogota, Colombia. This study introduces two segmentation strategies: 1) a sketch segmentation strategy based on a basic ordering pattern analysis combined with an extended value matrix, sourced from a customer value matrix created by Marcus (1998); and 2) a precision segmentation strategy based on a diffusion mapping analysis in conjunction with a factor value matrix, derived from the principal component analysis. The work further illustrates how to apply the precision segmentation strategy in assortment planning, with the goal of identifying more valuable products for the pilot company. Considering that product market diffusion is the key to increase purchase intention in the nanostore market, using this strategy can allow the pilot company to utilize resources more efficiently to further improve the diffusion of those valuable products. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 55-56). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92646 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92645 Carrier strategies in the spot trucking market Leopando, Paul Jeffrey Ramirez; Rocca, Kyle A. C How an owner-operator chooses a specific load is a relatively unstudied field in transportation literature. Stakeholders in the decisions, such as freight brokers, stand to benefit from a better understanding of the selection process. Using load board data from a freight brokerage, we identified four parameters available to a carrier when a load is presented: length of haul, revenue per mile (RPM), the probability of finding an onward load from the destination, and the required mileage to reposition to the shipment origin. We also identified preferences of the owner-operators based on experience, literature, and the data, such as owner-operators' preference for long haul routes. We tested selection strategies that disintegrated the four load parameters and incorporated owner-operator preferences in a computerized simulation. We found that strategies combining two or more of the identified parameters provide better results in terms of revenue and utilization (% loaded) maximization. Furthermore, we found that including consideration of the empty repositioning distance was critical to success. Our simulated carriers outperformed peers in the dataset by up to 16%. Carriers can apply these insights to improve their operating strategies. Freight brokerages can apply the quantitative approach to advise their carrier clients and optimize the matching of freight with available carrier capacity. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-78). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92645 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92641 A joint inventory and sourcing strategy to balance efficiency versus risk Huang, Wan-Yu, M.Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Liu, Jierui This research sought to identify the right strategy to mitigate the supply chain risk while maintaining supply chain efficiency for a company in the medical device industry. The company in our case was exposed to great risk of supplier disruption because of its single source practice. In general, there are two different approaches to reduce the impact of supplier disruption. One is holding additional inventory to cover the demand over the time-to-recovery, and the other is maintaining a second source to reduce the risk. In this research, we proposed a method of distinguishing the better approach. First, we classified the SKUs by criticality and complexity, evaluated the current inventory policy and inventory status, defined the time-to-recovery for each SKU, estimated the potential revenue lost over the time-to-recovery, calculated the additional inventory required, and calculated the related cost for both holding additional inventory and maintaining a second source. Then, we compared the three ROA ratios from holding additional inventory, maintaining a second source, and not taking any action (potential sales lost). The strategy with the highest ROA ratios represented the most efficient way to prevent the risk of supplier disruption. Based on the analysis, holding additional inventory was generally a better strategy for the company in the medical device industry to protect itself from the risk of supplier disruption in any given level of supplier risk. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 70-72). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92641 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92639 New product forecasting in volatile markets Baldwin, Alexander (Alexander Lee); Shin, Jaesung Forecasting demand for limited-life cycle products is essentially projecting an arc trend of demand growth and decline over a relatively short time horizon. When planning for a new limited-life product, many marketing and production decisions depend on accurately predicting the life cycle effects on product demand. For products with stable market shares, forecasting demand over the life cycle benefits from the high degree of correlation with prior sales of similar products. But for volatile-share markets, rapid innovation continually alters the shape of available features and performance, leading to products with demand patterns that differ greatly from prior generations and forecasting techniques that rely more on judgment and naive expectations. In an effort to understand opportunities and limitations of quantitative forecasting in a specific volatile-market context, we hypothesized certain characteristics about the shape and volatility of the demand trend in volatile-market product, and tested them using sample stable and volatile market data from a partner firm. We found significant differences in quantifiable characteristics such as skew and variance over the life cycle, presenting an opportunity for supply chain stakeholders to incorporate life cycle effects into forecasting models. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92639 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92638 The exploration of attributes aligning supply chain strategy & resilience execution Cope, Alexander Randon; Yuan, Liqing This research aims to characterize and measure hierarchical, functional and geographical alignment within an organization in an effort to understand the individual's attributes of resilience within the broader organization's business strategy. In partnership with a multinational chemicals manufacturer, data was collected from product supply organizations through interviews, surveys and case discussions, in an effort to understand resilience awareness and strategic alignment. The results are primarily used to quantify differences between strategic direction set by executives and the tactical execution of individual contributors. Secondary analysis examines correlations in responses, and further compares results by segmenting respondents by level within the organization, tenure with the company, functional role and cultural background. Data collected through this study identifies a difference between the attitudes and perceptions of executives and those of individual contributors. Understanding this misalignment is important as external research has found that there can be a permanent market capitalization loss of 5-10% after an announcement of a major supply disruption. Whether the disruption is due to a geological event or a political uprising, being prepared to respond to such disruptions is critical in today's complex business environment. Corporate culture, strategy, and people are the fundamental building blocks to ensuring alignment across all levels of an organization, enabling a unified, systematic and effective approach when responding to supply disruptions. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-58). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92638 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92122 How to Identify leading indicators for scenario monitoring Xu, Xia, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Being able to quickly adapt to changes in the business environment has been widely acknowledged as essential for sustainable success by business leaders. Scenario planning is recognized as an effective tool used to explore ambiguous business environment dynamics over a long time horizon and identifying ways to translate uncertainty into potential future strategies. After the potential scenarios are developed and formulated into business strategies, the practical decision-making process then requires continuous review. Existing literature suggests that companies must actively monitor the business environment using appropriate indicators and understand their implications. This research specifically aims to develop a systematic, quantitative approach to identifying potential leading indicators for scenario monitoring. This approach is a framework that calculates correlation between various datasets from public databases, identifying, screening then consolidating the key driving forces of particular business scenarios. This process, in concert with a thorough qualitative assessment by business leader practitioners, enables an effective practice of scenario planning that allows the business to adapt its strategic long term plans in a constantly shifting global environment. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 57). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92122 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92121 Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme; Woolard, Mark Anderson Less-than-truckload (LTL) is a $32-billion sector of the trucking industry that focuses on moving smaller shipments, typically with weights between 100 and 10,000 pounds, that do not require a full trailer to be moved. Currently, there are no widely accepted methods to estimate carbon emissions from LTL shipments which take into account all the complexities of a typical LTL network. This thesis seeks to address this issue by suggesting a methodology that allows different parties to estimate the emissions of individual LTL shipments with minimal input information. Throughout this research, we worked with C. H. Robinson, a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL), and Estes Express Lines, a privately-owned freight transportation company, and analyzed more than 1.5 million shipments. We developed two calculation tools: a detailed model, specifically designed for and based on Estes Express' network and operations, and a lower-precision generic model, adapted from the detailed one so that it could be applied to carriers whose network characteristics are unknown. We also assessed current estimation methods and found that they tend to underestimate the emissions from LTL shipments primarily because (1) they rely on direct over-the-road distances as opposed to actual shipped distances, which must include the intermediate stops, and (2) they fail to factor in the pick-up and delivery (P&D) sections, focusing solely on line haul operations. Therefore, while existing initiatives such as the GHG Protocol and the EPA SmartWay program provide guidance on how to estimate carbon emissions from transportation in general, the LTL industry still needs a specific approach that takes into account all of its unique characteristics. This thesis provides a contribution in that direction by suggesting a methodology to better estimate the carbon emissions of individual LTL shipments. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-88). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92121 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92120 A root cause analysis of stock-outs in the pharmaceutical industry Sun, Xuewen, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Yin, Bangqi PharCo (an assumed name) is a leading global healthcare company with well-recognized brands of both pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products. As PharCo continues to expand its global presence, product stock-outs in their pharmaceutical business unit have been consistently increasing. PharCo suspected that manufacturing quality defects were a major cause of stock-outs, reducing the production yield and preventing the company from meeting customer demand. To help test this hypothesis and address the stock-out challenge, we reviewed existing research on the subject of product stock-outs within the pharmaceutical industry. To understand PharCo's manufacturing process, we conducted on-site visits and reviewed their quality control practices. Finally, we designed a mixed methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze the root causes of product stock-outs at PharCo. The analysis revealed that, instead of manufacturing quality defects, regulatory issues were the primary cause for stock-outs at PharCo. Regulatory challenges associated with developments such as new product launches, license renewals, and formulation modifications need to be addressed for PharCo to reduce their stock-out level. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-46). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92120 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92119 Real-time order acceptance in transportation under uncertainty Nisar, Hiral (Hiral Dhiraj); Rosenzweig, Joshua Without using any order acceptance criteria, retail companies distributing products with private transportation fleets are not able to maximize their profits because they are not adequately utilizing their capacity. The objective of this paper was to create and validate a model to determine if historical demand data can be used by retail firms operating private fleets to make effective real-time order acceptance/rejection decisions with the purpose of eliminating unprofitable orders in a short-haul transportation setting. A Java tool was generated to instantaneously decide whether or not to accept an order depending on the order location and time of receipt. The model was tested against optimal decisions using total demand knowledge and several alternative real-time decision-making strategies. The model was found to significantly outperform the alternative real-time decision making strategies and provided profits approximately eight percent lower than the optimal decisions. We conclude that using historical demand probabilities is useful in informing the decisions of retail firms seeking to utilize private fleets efficiently and increase profitability through cost reduction. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 56). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92119 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92117 Statistical and causal analysis of inbound supply chain inefficiencies Haley, Tyler, 1983-; Nasseri, Hossein Given the importance of operational inefficiencies and their negative impact on the bottom line in today's competitive economy, CVS/pharmacy is very interested in implementing operational improvement initiatives across its inbound supply chain to minimize the number of non-value-added activities. Undertaking such efforts requires collaboration amongst all trade partners and a systematic approach in measuring the important performance metrics. Currently there is not a single procedure that defines the necessary metrics and the analytical tools necessary for identifying improvement opportunities. Leveraging research from the manufacturing industry, specifically supplier certification and statistical process control, this thesis aims to develop a comprehensive methodology for analyzing, monitoring and improving the operational performance of the retail industry supply chain. In this thesis, through an innovative approach to perfect order performance measurement combined with the practical application of statistical analysis methods, a complete supplier evaluation process is established. Further, by utilizing statistical sampling and based on the evaluation results, an inspection plan is provided that allows for accurate monitoring of ongoing processes with a reduction in inspection efforts. Finally through introduction of statistical process control models and root cause analysis, a complete procedure is developed for continuous evaluation and improvement, leading to efficiency gains and cost savings across the entire inbound supply chain. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. "June 2014."; Includes bibliographical references (pages 64-65). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92117 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92116 Application of Supply Chain Risk Management through visualization and value-at-risk quantification Xia, Diwei; Lu, Kaiye Supply Chain Risk Management ("SCRM") is often discussed in business and academia but is still underdeveloped as a practical tool. Many studies have examined the effects of supply chain disruptions, and many studies have also produced tools for mitigating risk. However, there is still a need for an integrated, practical approach for SCRM that businesses can implement on an enterprise scale. Our thesis attempts to bridge this gap and produce a practical approach for corporations to deploy a SCRM strategy on an enterprise level. Through the use of supply chain visualization and catastrophe modeling software, we have developed a SCRM strategy for a large multi-national chemical company. Our SCRM framework focuses on four key steps: 1) defining the scope of supply chain disruptions; 2) mapping and visualizing the supply chain; 3) evaluating the probability of disruption; and 4) developing a strategy to create an economically resilient supply chain. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 46-47). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92116 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92114 SKU segmentation strategy for a global retail supply chain Jin, Huiping, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Gilligan, Brad The concept of using different supply chain strategies for different products or product families is a fairly simple component of supply chain management. This practice, known as SKU segmentation, is widely used by many companies. However, most research and success stories involve a relatively stable portfolio of brands and products, and products with easily identifiable attributes such as profit margins and demand. This thesis attempts to determine if and how a SKU segmentation can be conducted when product mix is constantly changing and many key variables used in traditional segmentations are not known in advance. To explore this problem, we analyze one year of purchase order data and shipment data provided by our sponsor company. The objective is to use data from purchase orders to predict which items are candidates for different supply chain configurations (i.e. an expedited supply chain for time-sensitive products or an efficient supply chain if there is opportunity to reduce cost and still meet demand). We start by mapping the current supply chain process using historical data and interviews with employees. The key piece of the process we want to understand is how early or late products arrive at destination in relation to when those goods are expected in retail stores (a metric we refer to as "destination dwell time"). We then use visualization and statistical analysis to determine what PO information is related to the destination dwell time. After testing various multi-factor regression models to predict the length of this dwell time, we conclude that a neural network regression model predicts this time most accurately. We then assess whether or not it is feasible for the sponsor company to use this model to "speed up" or "slow down" the supply chain for different products as needed. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 57). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92114 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92111 3D printing your supply chain Jalwan, Hala; Israel, Gregory Increasing the pace of product innovation in the consumer packaged goods industry can be achieved by implementing new technologies and streamlining processes. Our research is conducted primarily through extensive interviews with 3D printing experts and stakeholders in product development of a leading cosmetics manufacturer. We identify a framework where additive manufacturing technology such as 3D printing can complement the steel mold tooling used in the development of consumer product packaging. Within hours, rapid tooling technology can provide molds that are ideal for low volume production required during the preliminary stages of product design and testing. Implementing our proposed solution may reduce 14% to 26% of a company's time to market by shortening the duration of some critical path activities. The company can therefore respond to customer demand faster, strengthening its competitive advantage in the industry. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 53-54). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92111 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92110 Increasing access to medicines in Southern Africa Graham, Chelsey (Chelsey Diane) Economic instability and poor or lacking physical infrastructure are some of the factors that contribute to price inflation along the supply chain in Zimbabwe. Our research, in partnership with one of the Big Pharma companies, addressed two intertwined yet distinct research areas. On one hand, we evaluated how price reductions (i.e. subsidy) offered by our partner company to the distributor translated down the value chain. On the other, we analyzed the costs of insourcing versus outsourcing of our partner's company distribution function, and the sales volumes at which the two alternatives are equivalent. We conducted a set of field interviews with local distributors and pharmacies; this combined with data gathered by a third party market research team and input from our partner company's South African business unit equipped us with the data required to address these questions. We realized how trust, information sharing and tailored incentive schemes played a pivotal role in the rollout of the price reduction scheme, making it relatively more successful for certain distributors, pharmacies, and product lines. Specifically, we were able to demonstrate how sales volume throughout the chain increased post subsidy implementation for two key distributors who passed on the largest price reductions as compared to the other distributors who were under review. In addition, through the application of inventory policies, such as economic order quantities and the power of two policy, and Monte Carlo simulation we were able to determine the impact that forecasting error, minimum order quantities, and sales volumes can have on the decision to outsource. At the current sales volumes experienced by our partner company, the minimum order quantity was greater than the economic order quantity for 80% of the products, which resulted in a 25% increase in inventory holding costs. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (page 52). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92110 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92108 Business continuity planning for a U.S. supply chain Chee, Arthur K. L. (Arthur Kuan Loong); Lee, Tzu-Hsueh The research objective was to provide a directional sense of some key considerations for business continuity planning (BCP) specific to a company's downstream distribution operations in the U.S. This was achieved via a two-pronged strategy comprised of quantitative and qualitative elements to complement insights gained from the literature review. By quantitatively assessing the financial impacts arising from four hypothetical scenarios, the business impact analysis (BIA) showcased the merits of short time-to-recovery (TTR) in the event of a disruption. However, available information also appears to suggest that the estimated financial impact from carrying high-value inventory is not necessarily insignificant. Hence, a company may want to mitigate the likelihood of a scenario whereby large amounts of inventory become damaged. Qualitative information from industry participants in the study highlighted the importance of tailoring continuity plans to the unique supply chain needs of an organization. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 79-80). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92108 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92106 Impact of 3D printing on global supply chains by 2020 Bhasin, Varun; Bodla, Muhammad Raheel This thesis aims to quantitatively estimate the potential impact of 3D Printing on global supply chains. Industrial adoption of 3D Printing has been increasing gradually from prototyping to manufacturing of low volume customized parts. The need for customized implants like tooth crowns, hearing aids, and orthopedic-replacement parts has made the Life Sciences industry an early adopter of 3D Printing. Demand for low volume spare parts of vintage cars and older models makes 3D Printing very useful in the Automotive industry. Using data collected from expert interviews, site visits, and online sources, and making assumptions where necessary, we developed our model by comparing the current supply chain processes and cost with the future supply chain processes and cost after 3D Printing was adopted. We also developed models to show future trends in 3D Printing adoption and costs. There were several challenges and limitations in this process due to limited availability of primary data, which led us to use secondary sources like the internet and make assumptions. One of the key features of our thesis is that we explicitly state all our assumptions, and present a model that is amenable to what-if analysis. Our analyses suggest that 3D Printing will change future supply chains significantly as production will move from make-to-stock in offshore/low-cost locations to make-on-demand closer to the final customer. This will significantly reduce transportation and inventory costs. The model shows that this will be especially true for low volume products. The models also show us the sensitivity analysis around the change in supply chain costs with the projected decrease in the cost and an increase in adoption of 3D Printing. The other major impact will be the reduction in lost sales due to unavailability of products and increase in customer satisfaction with almost 100% product availability. Finally, our analyses also indicate that 3D Printing could change the dynamics of the logistics industry: there may be reduction in the volume of freight business with an opportunity for 3PL companies to provide 3D Printing services in warehouses. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 81-82). Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92106 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/85457 Absenteeism prediction and labor force optimization in rail dispatcher scheduling Jensen, Taylor (Taylor Moroni); Sun, Qi Unplanned employee absences are estimated to account for a loss of 3% of scheduled labor hours. This can be costly in railroad dispatcher scheduling because every absence must be filled through overtime or a qualified extra dispatcher. One factor that complicates this problem is the uncertainty of unplanned employee absences. The ability to predict unplanned absences would facilitate effective scheduling of extra dispatchers and help reduce overtime costs. This thesis uses data from a railroad company over a four year period to examine company-wide factors thought to impact the number of unplanned absences among dispatchers. Using Poisson regression, we identify several factors that provide statistical evidence of influencing the number of unplanned absences. These factors are month, snowstorms, shift, and certain holidays. Despite these findings, the overall predictive capability of our regression model is very weak. Instead, we model the number of unplanned absences by shift as a Hadrom process with a Negative Binomial distribution and use Monte Carlo simulation to explore the impact on overtime costs of increasing the number of scheduled extra dispatchers and increasing the number of positions on which each employee is qualified to work. Our results show that increasing the number of extra dispatchers has a greater effect on reducing overtime, but the cost savings from reducing overtime expenses are not enough to offset the additional labor costs of having more employees on staff. Our results provide insight regarding the relationship among extra staff, higher levels of qualification among employees, and the willingness to use overtime in handling unplanned absences. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-62). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/85457 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81110 Modeling the tradeoff between inventory and capacity to optimize return on assets in production scheduling Wu, Cindy (Cindy Hsin-ying); González Duhart Muñoz de Cote, José Antonio In the agrochemical industry, companies are challenged with an extreme seasonality in demand driven by the crops' growing cycles. Therefore, balancing supply with such fluctuating demand has been a struggle for most companies due to their capacity constraints. One way to accommodate the demand is to stock enough inventory ahead of the peak seasons, while the other is to increase the production capacity so that the companies can react to the changing demand more quickly. However, either alternative comes at a significant cost. This paper examines the optimal mix of production capacity and inventory for a company to meet customers' demand at the highest net present value (NPV) of operating assets value add (OAVA). We use a multi-period, multi-stage, multi-product mixed integer linear optimization model to determine the best combination of resources. Viable resource options include stocking inventory ahead of the peak seasons, enhancing output through overtime, outsourcing production activities to a third party, and acquiring new assets for a particular production stage. The results show that the optimal OAVA comes from a combination of all these viable resources. Additionally, the master production schedule, the resulting inventory levels, and the recommended timings for external resources and asset acquisition are important takeaways from our model. They serve not only as the guidance of the company's day-to-day operations, but also as the quantitative analysis necessary to communicate with stakeholders across different functional teams with potentially conflicting interests. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-52). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81110 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81109 Measuring the capacity of a port system : a case study on a Southeast Asian port Salminen, Jason Bryan As economies develop and trade routes change, investment in port infrastructure is essential to maintain the necessary capacity for an efficiently functioning port system and to meet expected demand for all types of cargo. However, these largescale, expensive investments in long-term infrastructure assets must be made despite a variety of future uncertainties that may potentially influence a port's performance. By using a Southeast Asian multi-purpose port as a case study, this thesis paper enhances the investment decision-making process for port infrastructure through the successful application and modification of two existing methodologies and the development of both an investment tool and a framework for selecting an optimal investment strategy to address capacity constraints within a port system. Applied at the case study port, the research evaluates a modification of an existing methodology for the measurement of port capacity, developed by Lagoudis and Rice, to identify bottlenecks within the port system. The research then examines a modification of an existing methodology, developed by de Neufville and Scholtes, for the evaluation of potential investment strategies under uncertainty. A simulation screening model is developed to forecast expected profitability under uncertainty for potential investment strategies, including strategies with flexible options, and to determine the optimal strategy. The thesis concludes with the presentation of a decision-making process for port infrastructure investment and recommended refinements to the existing methodologies. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-177). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81109 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81107 Outbound transportation collaboration- Do It Yourself (DIY) Taherian, Homayoun Continuous increases in transportation costs on one hand and companies' desire to reduce inventories and receiving costs on the other hand, have been forcing shippers to come up with innovative ways in tackling these two conflicting goals. One of these innovations is horizontal transportation collaboration. Horizontal transportation collaboration is the act of consolidation of shipments across several firms. This collaboration opens up the opportunity for companies to take advantage of the synergies that may exist in their supply chain networks. Such collaborations can be orchestrated through a 3PL or by the companies themselves via a Do-It- Yourself (DIY) approach. Collaboration can be active or passive. Active collaboration is when shippers plan their shipments with the goal of consolidation. Passive collaboration is purely opportunistic and takes advantage of synergies if and when they occur. The focus of this thesis is passive DIY collaboration. This research provides a practical guideline for companies who intend to engage in DIY collaboration with other firms. It addresses how to qualify potential collaboration partners, how to evaluate the associated savings, and finally, how to make it work. As a part of this thesis the actual data from six shippers were analyzed and the potential savings were calculated. The analysis included multi-stop truckload (MSTL) consolidation and pool point distribution. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-70). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81107 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81106 Using big data for decisions in agricultural supply chain Smith, Derik Lafayette; Dhavala, Satya Prakash Agriculture is an industry where historical and current data abound. This paper investigates the numerous data sources available in the agricultural field and analyzes them for usage in supply chain improvement. We identified certain applicable data and investigated methods of using this data to make better supply chain decisions within the agricultural chemical distribution chain. We identified a specific product, AgChem, for this study. AgChem, like many agricultural chemicals, is forecasted and produced months in advance of a very short sales window. With improved demand forecasting based on abundantly-available data, Dow AgroSciences, the manufacturer of AgChem, can make better production and distribution decisions. We analyzed various data to identify factors that influence AgChem sales. Many of these factors relate to corn production since AgChem is generally used with corn crops. Using regression models, we identified leading indicators that assist to forecast future demand of the product. We developed three regressions models to forecast demand on various horizons. The first model identified that the price of corn and price of fertilizer affect the annual, nation-wide demand for the product. The second model explains expected geographic distribution of this annual demand. It shows that the number of retailers in an area is correlated to the total annual demand in that area. The model also quantifies the relationship between the sales in the first few weeks of the season, and the total sales for the season. And the third model serves as a short-term, demand-sensing tool to predict the timing of the demand within certain geographies. We found that weather conditions and the timing of harvest affect when AgChem sales occur. With these models, Dow AgroSciences has a better understanding of how external factors influence the sale of AgChem. With this new understanding, they can make better decisions about the distribution of the product and position inventory in a timely manner at the source of demand. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-54). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81106 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81105 The "+Add" Model : a proposed strategic framework to create agile high performance aerospace and defense product support supply chains Riwes, Mina (Mina Diaa) The U.S. Aerospace and Defense industry is a vital organ for national security and humanitarian disaster response as well as an economic powerhouse creating jobs and driving exports. News headlines often stop at the sale of complex, hi-tech and expensive defense systems short of capturing the critical aftersales support. However, it is the aftersales support that enables the mission to be accomplished. Without a well-functioning product support supply chain, even the most advanced fleet of fighter jets is rendered useless. This paper looks in-depth at such support supply chains within top industry companies. The investigation spans the current and desired states, and gaps the difference. It also establishes a visionary roadmap to get to the desired state and ensure optimum performance. The research proposes the "+Add Model", an easy to understand 5-level framework to achieve Global Optimization. The +Add Model acronyms stand for Aggregate Dynamic Derivatives, which are key elements in the framework. Aggregate refers to enabling a one integrated supply chain approach at the prime-integrator to benefit from economies of scale elements such as risk pooling and large discount buys. Dynamic refers to enabling a continuously improving supply chain through feedback loops making the supply chain agile. Derivatives refer to the realization that the supply chain is full of hidden derivatives (or levers). As in calculus, the derivative is a measure of how a function changes as its input changes. The +Add model identifies those main supply chain derivative functions and inputs, and then aims to fine-tune them to drive performance. By adopting the +Add Model a prime-integrator is able to improve demand forecast accuracy (Level-1), system planning lead times (Level-2) and increase collaboration with the supplier (Level-3). In turn, levels 1 through 3 enable significantly reduced supplier lead times (Level-4). Finally, as various programs apply the +Add Model approach, Aggregation (Level-5) provides additional benefits such as increased forecast accuracy, discount buys, and lower safety stock inventory through centralization. The +Add Model has a significant impact to the button line, analysis reveals substantial improvements to earnings, economic profit and cash flow while maximizing performance and reducing risk. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references. Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81105 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81104 Assembling the crystal ball : using demand signal repository to forecast demand Rashad, Ahmed (Ahmed Fathy Mustafa Rashad Abdelaal); Spraggon, Santiago Improving forecast accuracy has positive effects on supply chain performance. Forecast accuracy can reduce inventory levels, increase customer service levels and responsiveness, or a combination of the two. However, the further upstream in the supply chain, the more difficult it becomes to forecast accurately. Demand for consumer products might be subject to factors that are hard to identify and quantify. One way to overcome this is to observe external factors or predictors that might help explain demand. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the factors that potentially influence the demand of a fast-moving consumer product (bottled water), and build a demand signal repository for these factors to help the manufacturer generate more accurate forecasts. We identified more than 30 such factors that might affect demand, using interviews and industry research. We tested more than 200 causal models of the relationship between observed demand and the predicting factors. The resulting model explained almost 60% of demand for two out of three customers using daily buckets and over 85% using weekly buckets compared to less than 50% using time-series techniques. Using the results of this extensive analysis, we propose a new forecasting model. We also identified additional factors that could not be included this analysis due to the lack of data; adding these to the model may further improve the forecast accuracy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 60). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81104 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81103 Foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses for luxury goods Petrova, Nadya (Nadya Naydenova); Templeton, A. Todd We explore and compare the benefits of establishing and operating Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) and Bonded Warehouses (BWs) for luxury goods in North America, using the case of the distribution network of Ralph Lauren Corporation (RLC). RLC is a luxury brand company with about $7 billion annual revenue. With over 3 million square feet of warehousing facilities in the USA, the company wants to explore potential savings from changing the legal titles of four of its existing inventory holding and transload facilities to either FTZs or BWs while considering the respective complexity and cost of setting up and managing the zones. To eliminate one of the FTZ and BW options, we measured both of their operational fits to the metrics of RLC's facilities. We found out that BWs are not a viable alternative for large-scale facilities such as RLC's because of the complicated Customs and Border Protection control they require. Furthermore, to determine which, if any, of the facilities should be transformed into FTZs, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis and evaluated the Net Present Value of the projects. As a result, we found out that it is financially beneficial to transform two of the four facilities under consideration, leave one in its current state, and explore the future strategic role of the fourth facility to determine the value of its FTZ transformation. We also suggest possible operational opportunities that may increase the FTZ benefits for the RLC North America network. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-64). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81103 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81102 Calculating humanitarian response capacity Nishimura, Kathryn K. (Kathryn Kimie); Wang, Jian Since the year 2000, at least 300 disasters occurred annually, catching more than 100 million people unprepared and in need of international assistance every year. The United Nations operates five humanitarian response depots (UNHRDs), stocked with over 1,000 types of humanitarian relief items. In the event of an emergency, the UNHRDs deploy the pre-positioned stocks to meet the initial demand of those people affected. Our thesis evaluates the response capacity of the UNHRDs to a single potential disaster: what percentage of total affected people can be served and in what time period. Developed from a stochastic linear programming model, this two-part index assumes that the depots operate as a network, lead times are proportional to distances from depots, and stockpiles are optimized individually for each relief item. Given a specific level of initial inventory for each item, the model also provides insight into how to distribute relief items throughout the five depots to minimize the expected delivery time. Based on a marginal benefit analysis, each unit of inventory is allocated to a depot to minimize the total expected delivery times to disasters. We describe how the UNHRDs and other humanitarian relief organizations can strategically pre-position limited emergency relief resources to maximize their capacity to respond to disasters. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-65). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81102 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81101 Multi-echelon inventory optimization for fresh produce Limvorasak, Saran; Xu, Zhiheng For fresh produce, the product freshness is a key value to end consumers. Retailers try to maximize product freshness at retail stores while maintaining high product availability. Fresh produce that is close to the end of its life cycle will either be scrapped or be sold at a much lower price. With an increasing demand volatility and complication of supply chain network, obsolescence cost from these spoilages has been increasing recently. Our research focuses on the study of multi-echelon inventory optimization for fresh produce. We investigated the impacts of an additional fulfillment center in a supply chain to justify an improvement in product freshness. We analyzed three relevant factors: transit time, inventory dwell time and safety time, which affect the time products spend in a supply chain from the suppliers to the retail stores. Our objective was to create a predictive model that could determine whether product freshness could be improved when those products are shipped through a supply chain network with an additional fulfillment center. While a fulfillment center increases the total transit time by adding more "touches" of the inventory, it can provide benefits by reducing demand variability through the risk pooling effect. When an fulfillment center aggregates demand from several grocery distribution centers, it pools the demand volatility across various locations, thus reducing the demand volatility and the safety stock. Our model demonstrated that, with a fulfillment center, six product categories (Berries, Watermelons, Cherries, Mixed melons, Stone fruit, and Strawberries) had a decrease in the safety time that is more than the increase in total transit time, resulting in the improved product freshness at retail stores. Further, we defined a term "Enhance Coefficient of Variation (ECV)" to quantify the demand volatility. Finally, we determined a set of minimum ECV ratios in order to make an fulfillment center benefits the product freshness under different replenishment frequencies. Retailers can use this ECV ratio as an indicator to make channeling decisions. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 69). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81101 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81100 A simplified and scalable should-cost tool in the oilfield services industry Mealer, Clayton M; Park, Sung Hwan Third party spend accounts for a significant amount of a business' costs. When procuring unique, highly-engineered components, this cost is often negotiated with suppliers during the procurement process. Due to the limited understanding of the suppliers' true production cost, various techniques and models for determining how much a procured product should cost have been tried. One such approach is known as "should-cost modeling," where estimates for the cost of a product or service are made based on product architecture and/or firm financials. Both these approaches to should-cost modeling require extensive data collection and are time consuming. In this thesis, we expand an approach that uses aggregate industry-specific financial data to develop a simple, scalable tool to estimate a product's should-cost. One major challenge in building this tool is unifying the simple aggregate data available into an estimated price for a complex product. This is a major challenge of developing a should-cost estimate using existing methods. We develop an approach to simplifying a complex product, construct our model, and create a ready-to-use tool. We demonstrate the working of the model and the tool using the case of a semi-complex product (the fluid end of a pump) representative of a company's procured products. We then compare the price estimated by our model with that currently negotiated with our sponsor company's supplier and solicit qualitative feedback from procurement professionals regarding the should-cost tool's accuracy. The price estimated by our tool is within 9% of the actual negotiated price and required significantly less time to compute compared to the current approach based on product architecture. The company's sourcing and procurement executive strongly endorses the benefits of our approach. This tool can remove the reliance on supplier-supplied quotes and strengthen the purchasing company's negotiating position. The tool developed in this thesis is shown to provide a more accurate estimate of product cost, with significantly less estimation effort. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81100 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81099 Strategic inventory management of externally sourced medical devices Hillstrom, Nichole L. (Nichole Leigh); Malabanan, Renato A The purpose of this research was to determine inventory strategies for externally sourced medical devices. In the medical device industry, the desire for high levels of customer service often results in less than optimal inventory levels. In this study, we analyzed the details of the current inventory model utilized by the medical device company. In assigning appropriate inventory levels, we determined that key inputs were not regarded. When evaluating inventory levels, it was determined that pipeline inventory should be removed from the target on hand inventory levels if inventory ownership occurs upon receipt. When calculating safety stock, we determined that supply variability should be incorporated into the safety stock formula and extra buffers currently in place should be removed. In addition, a more robust measure of demand variability such as the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) or the Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE) should be incorporated into the formula instead of the use of the maximum of standard deviation of demand and standard deviation of forecast. Also, a gap was identified between the customer service safety factor used in the safety stock formula and the measurement of customer service by the company. Following the analysis of the current inventory modeling approach, we segmented the medical device SKU's based on key factors that drive inventory: demand, lead time, criticality and customer service. We also redefined the model used to determine slow moving inventory levels by incorporating the lead time of the part in setting cycle and safety stock levels and simulating the results to validate the relationships between the various inventory drivers. The application of the methodologies, concepts and findings in this research covering externally sourced medical devices can be extended to other subsidiaries and other industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 59). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81099 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81098 Analysis of truckload prices and rejection rates Kim, Yoo Joon Truckload (TL) is the principle mode of freight transportation in the United Sates. Buyers of TL services are shippers with significant amount of shipments throughout a year. Due to the complexity of their network and the large expenditure on transportation, shippers select their carriers through auctions and using optimization methods, and enter into long-term contracts with winners with the best prices. Shippers subsequently request their carriers to fulfill shipment every time there's a load, a procedure called 'tender'. Despite the sophisticated selection and the existence of contracts, shippers' tenders are frequently rejected by their carriers, a phenomenon called tender rejection. When this happens, the shipper has to find alternative carriers and most of the time the price for the load increases. With weekly rejection rate as a dependent variable, and with variability of volume, length of haul, or the differential in prices as independent variables, this research mainly used the linear regression method to examine how well these independent variables account for rejections for a given lane. The analysis used the data including TL shipment and tender records of 17 shippers for five years. This research also attempted to discover any geographic patterns of frequent rejections. The analysis of the relationship between truckload rates and rejection rates suggested a potential trade-off between price and rejection, which questions the generally accepted strategy of shippers minimizing truckload expenditures by unconditionally reducing rejections. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 60). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81098 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81097 A decision support model for staffing supply chain planners : a case from the consumer packaged goods industry Castillo, Aura C. (Aura Carolina); Ucev, Ethem Reducing or increasing labor force is not always effective when done without a thorough analysis. Organizations could face negative consequences such us unbalanced workload, inefficient procedures, lost sales, and negative work atmosphere. An increasing number of organizations are centralizing operations in order to optimize labor costs. However, not all companies assess the new number of employees required after centralization takes place, and for those companies that actually do this analysis, there are not quantitative tools, as far as we know in the literature, that can help them estimate the workforce required. This thesis project provides practitioners with a new mathematical model to estimate an appropriate number of production planners required for the supply chain planning department of a company in the consumer packaged goods industry. Using bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis, we explored whether a relationship exists between the required number of production planners in the new centralized offices of the Company and 13 factors that impact employee's workload. The resulting regression model accounts for 98% of the variance of the number of planners. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-56). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81097 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81096 Supply chain network optimization : low volume industrial chemical product Dacha, Fred (Frederick Omondi); Jin, Li The chemical industry is a highly competitive and low margin industry. Chemical transportation faces stringent safety regulations meaning that Cost-To-Serve (C2S), costs associated with products net flow from manufacturers to customers, consists of a big percentage of the delivered product cost. Supply chain practitioners in this industry need to make key logistics decisions to minimize C2S for profitability and business sustainability. In this thesis, we present a network optimization model to minimize the total C2S for SKU-1, a low volume and low margin industrial chemical with a customer base spread across North and South America. We use a mathematical linear program to investigate the effects on total C2S when available production capacities and sources are shifted. We develop the model as a minimum cost flow problem, and more specifically, as a production and transportation problem (PTP). We analyze the total C2S under three scenarios. In the baseline scenario there are three manufacturing facilities in the Midwest, South East, and Europe. In the second scenario, where the Midwest supplier is excluded from the network, the C2S increases by 3%. In the third scenario, where both the Midwest and South East facilities are excluded, the C2S increases by 13%. Under each scenario we calculate the C2S for each individual customer and identify the customers most impacted by the change in supply. Our results provide insight regarding the changes expected to the supply network under capacity constraints and how those changes may affect the profitability of individual customers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-62). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81096 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81095 Ethanol supply chain and industry overview : more harm than good? Bruce, Sarah L This thesis is a comprehensive study that aggregates the key aspects of ethanol including its supply chain, government legislation that impacts the use of, and the inherent material characteristics of the fuel as well as its environmental impact. Based on existing research, this study suggests whether or not mandating biofuels in today's energy portfolio makes sense and if so, to what extent. The objective of this research was to compile and analyze the large body of existing working knowledge regarding ethanol and distill some key takeaways for actionable recommendations. The findings in this research may be useful to policy makers, and those unfamiliar with the industry and wanting to learn more about ethanol. The key takeaway is that ethanol does not provide a quick fix to the world's energy problems but when combined with improved energy conservation, continued research and development to improve ethanol's carbon footprint, it can provide some help to reducing the environmental impact along with other benefits such as energy independence and rural economic stimulation. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-87). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81095 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81094 Characteristics of spot-market rate indexes for truckload transportation Bignell, Andrew (Andrew Souglas) In the truckload transportation industry in the United States, a number of indexes are published that attempt to measure changes in rates, but no single index has emerged as an industry standard. Industry participants, particularly those exposed to the spot-market, have found that existing indexes do not effectively represent their experiences in the marketplace. A widely-used and valid spot-market index could allow for more effective tactical decision-making, the development of freight derivatives, stronger analysis and negotiation of contract rates, and contracts with index-tied rates. This paper examines pricing indexes from other industries and expands upon a framework of characteristics that support successful indexes. Using this framework to evaluate existing industry indexes, it finds that two commonly used indexes are not designed appropriately for use by the spot-market. It also examines rates experienced by a large North American provider of non-asset based logistics services and finds that they differ significantly from rates measured by existing indexes. The analysis suggests that indexes of the spot market would be improved by disaggregating rate information based on geography and tender lead time. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-93). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81094 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81093 How should indicators be found for scenario monitoring ? He, Zheng, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scenario planning is a widely used approach for developing long-term strategies. The typical scenario process involves developing scenarios, identifying strategies whose success is contingent on the scenario, and monitoring the environment regularly to know which scenario(s) may become more likely. Hence it becomes necessary to find a way to monitor the business environment in order to inform the process of making strategic decisions under uncertainty. This thesis proposes to use a set of nested indicators to monitor environment. The approach consists of a seven-step process to build composite indicators and link them with scenarios. Individual indicators are selected based on intuitive theoretical frameworks. Different weights are assigned to individual indicators using factor analysis. And then composite indicators are built by linear aggregation of individual indicators. The composite indicators are used to assess the changes in the driving forces over time. Such changes serve as the basis for judging whether the level of the driving forces is high or low. Those levels are then used to infer which scenario is likely to come to pass. This thesis used a set of four scenarios to illustrate the application of the approach. Those scenarios were built for a chemical company's supply chain in Asian/Pacific region in 2025. The result suggested that the environment of the sub-region in the monitoring year was more like a "Collaborative World" or a mix of "Collaborative World" and "Demanding World". And it is more possible that the environment was evolving into those two scenarios instead of the others. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-78). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81093 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81092 Communicating optimization results Bailey, Drake (William Drake); Skempton, Daniel With global supply chains becoming increasingly complex, leading companies are embracing optimization software tools to help them structure and coordinate their supply chains. With an array of choices available, many organizations opt for one of the numerous off-the-shelf products. Others choose instead to create their own bespoke optimization tools. While this custom approach affords greater versatility than a commercially available product, it also presents significant challenges to both the creators and users of the tool in terms of complexity. It can often be time-consuming and difficult for the users of the tool to understand and verify the results that are generated. If a decision-maker has difficulty understanding or trusting the output of a model, then the value of the tool is seriously diminished. This paper examines the challenges between the creators, or operational research engineers, and the end-users when deploying and executing complex optimization software in supply chain management. We examine the field of optimization modeling, communication methods involved, and relevant data visualization techniques. Then, we survey a group of users from our sponsoring company to gain insight to their experience using their tool. The general responses and associated crosstab analysis reveals that training and visualization are areas that have potential to improve the user's understanding of the tool, which in turn would lead to better communication between the end-users and the experts who build and maintain the tool. Finally, we present a section on current, cutting edge visualization techniques that can be adapted to influence the way a user visualizes the optimization results. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-79). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81092 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81091 Future scenarios for green chemical supply chains Arora, Vibhu, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Putcha, Sekhar We live in an age where industrial chemicals are central to the modem economy serving as the basis for all man-made fibers, life-science chemicals and consumer products. Owing to globalization, the industry has grown to extend its presence all over the world. Given the heavy manufacturing base and large distribution networks, the underlying supply chains are a critical component for the chemical industry. The chemical industry is capital intensive and most strategic decisions taken by firms in this industry have long-term impacts. As such, any uncertainty in the environment that affects these strategic decisions in supply chains needs to be understood before committing to the assets. In particular, sustainability related concerns have risen in importance in the past decade, and are likely to be important in the next decade (and beyond). In this thesis, we use scenario planning to understand the impact of sustainability related factors on Chemical supply chains for the year 2025. Using the literature in the field of long-range planning for the chemical industry, supply chain sustainability and scenario planning, and interviews with several experts in industry and academia, we developed three scenarios that we feel will be most applicable to understand the implications of a rather ambiguous issue of "sustainability" for chemical supply chains. Each of the three scenarios offers our end users -planners in the corporate supply chain strategy group - a framework to think about a complete and consistent set of world views regarding sustainability in which the industry must thrive. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-54). Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81091 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79317 Strengthening informal supply chains : the case of recycling in Bandung, Indonesia Tuori, Michael A. (Michael Aaron) A large degree of economic activity in developing countries operates unregulated and unreported in what has become known as the informal economy. Within the informal economy, a large number of individuals work in waste picking and recycling. In Indonesia, up to 70% of all employment is within the informal economy. In Bandung, the nation's third largest city, there are estimated to be more than 3000 individuals working in the informal recycling sector as waste pickers and middlemen. The informal recycling supply chain begins with waste pickers that collect waste materials from homes, businesses, streets, waste transfer sites, and landfills. These materials are then sold through a series of middlemen before reaching the factories that reuse them as inputs to production. Traditionally, academics, policy makers, and advocacy groups have focused their attention on waste pickers, while dismissing recycling middlemen as being exploitative. However, in the case of Bandung, the middlemen industry has a great deal of heterogeneity in terms of earnings and vulnerability. Middlemen also add value to supply chain by providing needed capital and transportation. Using the case of recycling in Bandung, this thesis argues in favor of policies that take into consideration all actors within an informal supply chain. In order to design effective policies, policy makers should have a clear understanding of the supply chain dynamics as well as the roles that each actor in the system serves. This thesis purposes an evaluation tool to aid policy makers in assessing informal supply chains on aspects of both efficiency and social conditions. The application of this tool is then demonstrated in the design of several policy recommendations for enhancing informal recycling activities in Bandung. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; and, (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 114-118). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79317 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77540 Inventory strategies for patented and generic products for a pharmaceutical supply chain Krishnamurthy, Prashanth, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Prasad, Amit This thesis presents a model to determine safety stock considering the distinct planning parameters for a pharmaceutical company. Traditional parameters such as forecast accuracy, service level requirements and average lead-time are combined with a nontraditional upstream uncertainty parameter defined as supply reliability. In this instance, supply reliability measures uncertainty in the supply quantity delivered rather than variability in the lead-time for delivery. We consider the impact of the safety stock using two products: a proprietary product that is patented and a generic product that recently went off patent. Sensitivity analysis is performed to provide insights on the impact of variations in input parameters. The study shows that there is a significant difference in safety stock between the proposed model and the current model used by the company. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-77). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77540 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77539 Tracking and fleet optimization of Reusable Transport Items in the shipping industry Lefebvre, Jean-Marie, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Yue, Dameng This thesis explores the strategies, methodologies and tools for an optimal management of Reusable Transport Items, such as containers or chassis, in an extensive multi-depots network. We use an ocean shipping company operating globally to propose a broad, comprehensive and integrated system for an optimal management of the fleet, embracing technology, processes and monitoring system. The ability to track these assets is the first step to visibility and fleet optimization and we will question the opportunity for a company to invest in a real time tracking technology. In highly complex logistic networks, the challenge is to get the right equipment at the right place at the right time, in a cost efficient manner and with a fleet size as small as possible. Beyond increased visibility through tracking capabilities, we show that choosing an appropriate utilization metrics helps identify and quantify other areas of improvement. Using actual data, we evaluate to what extent the fleet size can be reduced by improving asset utilization and how leasing also impacts operating costs. We also show how the structural imbalance of trade (some regions being net exporters while others are net importers) impacts both global repositioning policy and local inventory policy, with depots of different profiles requiring different policies. Understanding this systematic and systemic approach of fleet management, we assess the contribution of tracking technology capabilities to these potential improvements. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77539 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77503 Impact of risk sharing on competitive bidding in truckload transportation Abramson, Molly (Molly Elizabeth); Sawant, Ajit The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether a shipper's fuel surcharge (FSC) program affected its per-load transportation costs in the United States full-truckload (TL) transportation industry. In this study, we restricted transportation costs to line-haul charges and fuel surcharge premiums. Using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, we examined the effect of a shipper's FSC program on its line-haul charges. We controlled for well-established transportation cost drivers, including distance and geography. We found that carriers discounted their line-haul rates according to a shipper's FSC program. The more a shipper paid in FSC premiums, the less it paid in line-haul charges. For fuel prices above $2.08 per gallon, however, the fuel surcharge premiums dwarfed the line-haul discount. This effect was most pronounced for shippers with low efficiency values. Shippers with lower efficiency values paid higher per-load transportation costs than shippers with higher efficiency values. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77503 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77475 e-Commerce fulfillment strategy for luxury brands in South Korea Vanderbilt, Mark F. (Mark Franklin); Yunes, Daniel G Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-84).; Introduction and motivation: From a traditional paradigm, the term "luxury e-commerce" is an oxymoron. The high-volume, hands-off approach of online sales is a direct contradiction to that of the high touch, human relationship-based luxury retail industry. It is for this reason that, until recently, many luxury brands have avoided e-retail - the belief is that it cheapens their image (Okonkwo, 2010). However, the successful experiences of certain companies in specific regions are gradually giving many luxury retailers a reason to reconsider e-commerce. For example, the luxury retailer Ralph Lauren has experienced huge success in e-commerce (see Figure 1), and is on a mission to proliferate their multi-channel sales model across the globe. South Korea is one of the most recent locations in which Ralph Lauren has chosen to roll out an e-retail initiative. Explosive economic growth across Asia has rapidly expanded the market for luxury goods and services. In South Korea, this growth has been particularly strong and consistent, as has South Korean consumers' appetite for luxury. This strong market growth, confluent with the reputation as the world's most wired country, makes South Korea an attractive target for e-commerce implementation. The Ralph Lauren team came to us with a rather broad request: to help them investigate the potential challenges of their e-retail initiative in South Korea. Through our research, we found several interesting and pertinent optimization models that could be modified to plan for Ralph Lauren's e-retail operation in South Korea, but as we delved into these models we realized that they didn't address Ralph Lauren's paramount mission in Korea, which is to "elevate the brand". We took a step back and zeroed in on our focus question: how could Ralph Lauren elevate its brand while simultaneously launching an e-commerce initiative in South Korea? We believe the insights gained from our study will help Ralph Lauren utilize "systems-thinking" to make strategic and operational decisions in South Korea that can elevate their brand image. These insights might also apply to other luxury retailers considering an e-commerce initiative in South Korea or other countries. This thesis presents several thought models that incorporate factors like inventory policy, brand strength, mediation, customization and online sales mix - which may make this research of interest to sales, marketing, operations and supply chain professionals. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77475 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77474 Inventory management strategy for the supply chain of a medical device company Tjhin, Poi Chung; Pandey, Rachita In the medical device industry, many companies rely on a high inventory strategy in order to meet their customers' urgent requirements, sometimes leading to excessive inventory. This problem is compounded when it involves a long supply chain with several stages of activities and with long delivery and processing lead times. It is further exacerbated when high inventory leads to the frequent expiry of items with short shelf lives, which is typical of surgical items that have to be sterilized. Good supply chain strategies can potentially lead to a significant reduction of the supply chain cost. Through the use of relevant mathematical formulae and Strategic Inventory Placement optimization method, this paper examines the extent of the usefulness of a few possible strategies, such as kitting architecture change and continuous review system, for a family of medical emergency surgical kits across the whole supply chain for a medical device company. The result shows that reducing production lead time and review period, as well as adopting certain kitting architecture changes can reduce inventory value by more than 60% and operating cost by more than 20%. In addition, the paper shows that the Strategic Inventory Placement method can further reduce the total inventory value and operating cost by increasing the inventory of finished products and reducing the inventory of components in the supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77474 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77471 The effects of data sharing on a perishable goods supply chain Wilson, Darren (Darren Edward); Yeung, Gerald This research project explores the benefits of retail data sharing in a high-velocity perishable goods supply chain. While this technique has been largely effective in improving supply chain performance in different industries, its benefits are unproven in the perishable goods business. Specifically, due to the short shelf life of produce, it remains to be seen whether data sharing can generate actionable plans for retailers to reduce out-of-stock events and shrinkage due to spoilage. As a result, suppliers and retailers alike have been reluctant to invest in the technology and cultivate the business relationship required to enable data sharing. The findings of this thesis could help companies determine whether a business case can be built for suppliers to invest in the necessary technology, as well as for retailers to share operational data for the greater good of overall supply chain efficiency and profitability. Ultimately, our research indicates that without some fundamental changes to the retailers' ordering process, data sharing does not provide substantial operational benefits for the perishable goods supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-68). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77471 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77470 Perspectives for logistics clusters development in Russia Tantsuyev, Andriy This thesis is a normative work aimed at identifying locations in Russia with high, medium and unclear potentials for logistics cluster development. As a framework this work uses four different models of logistics clusters: Major Seaport, Auxiliary Seaport, Major Inland and Auxiliary Inland logistics clusters. Conclusions are based on analysis of port connectivity, population incomes within eight hours of driving from a specific location, auto roads accessibility, economic effectiveness of local government and quality of auto roads. This paper provides guidelines for decision makers about how to set up the rail infrastructure in order to support the logistics development across different parts of Russia. Furthermore, this work suggests where future research should be amplified, especially concerning the quality of input data. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-66). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77470 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77469 Macroeconomic models of consumer demand for consumer packaged goods in Asia Mau, Jonathan; McFadden, Bryan P CPGCo, a global manufacturer of consumer packaged goods, has had tremendous difficulty in producing accurate forecasts for its products in developing markets. The problem was especially apparent during the global economic crisis in 2008, which caused demand for its products to become highly volatile. Its troubles have been aggravated by its long forecasting horizon, as it has not been able to adjust quickly enough to rapid market shifts due to fluctuations in various macroeconomic indicators. As a result, CPGCo faces heavy stockouts and excess inventories. This thesis explores the suitability of using macroeconomic indicators to forecast consumer demand for three developing countries in Asia as well as three separate product segments. A total of 27 macroeconomic models are constructed using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis employing three separate dependent variables: the firm's monthly wholesale shipment volume, retail market share by volume, and retail sales. The world oil price and country-specific exchange rates, stock indexes, interest rates, consumer price indexes, and consumer confidence indicators are used as independent variables. With our models, we are capable of producing extremely accurate forecasts for a small sample set with errors at or below 7.2%. Our findings also indicate that the consumer price index has the most influence on consumer demand, appearing in 81% of our models; thus, we recommend that CPGCo tracks the consumer price index of each country to complement its current forecasting processes. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-92). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77469 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77468 Supply chain network considerations for e-retail of luxury goods in Canada Tansoy, Dilek; Teo, Yi Linn The Internet has changed the way people purchase goods in the 21st century: many types of goods and services have become available online. Luxury goods followed this trend after an initial delay, primarily due to the nature of these goods. At the time of the preparation of this document, there were no proven guidelines for building the most successful e-retail website for luxury goods from the brand management and profitability perspectives. Ralph Lauren (RL) is an established American brand, well known for quality and consistent style in the following categories: clothing for women, men, and children; home goods, accessories; and fragrances. RL Corporation houses many labels that constitute premium and luxury offerings. RL currently sells through the Internet in many countries, in addition to countless company owned stores, 9 flagship stores, department stores and boutiques distributed around the world. To continue growth, RL wants to launch an e-retail website for Canada. This thesis aims to provide supply chain network considerations for the successful operation of the Canadian e-retail website for RL. These considerations stem from a careful look into potential luxury website characteristics that would meet the company objective of elevating the brand towards the luxury category. It is recommended that RL secure expansion capacity that will likely be necessary for B2C operation at its Toronto distribution center (DC). In addition, material handling equipment that will process a high volume of small orders should be placed in this DC. The Vancouver cross-docking facility could be expanded in the future as prompted by sales volume and coupled with a DC to cater to the West Coast of Canada. Also, it is recommended that advanced customer tracking systems and databases be employed, especially to determine high value customers for tailored offerings in the luxury segment. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77468 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77467 Assessing the value of sustainability initiatives in business-to-business relationships Ransom, Jeffrey Wallace Environmental sustainability initiatives have risen in popularity over recent decades. Companies are actively seeking to promote innovative practices to reduce environmental impact and attract the "green" shopper. The business-to-business (B2B) segment is no different, and many companies utilize proactive sustainability strategies. This thesis examines the important role that environmental sustainability plays within the B2B segment and makes recommendations on how to prioritize sustainability investments. RetailCo, a national provider of various material goods and services, provided data and support for analysis. Information was collected and analyzed from customer inquiries such as Requests for Proposals and Requests for Information. An online survey, constructed to determine customer sustainability priorities, was distributed to business customers. The results from both data sources were used to analyze customer preferences and priorities. Results were analyzed by industry type, company size, geographic region, and annual spend with RetailCo. Finally, interviews were conducted with select companies to compare survey results. Detailed analysis of all data sources shows that sustainable business customers are larger government or education organizations, and they appear to strongly favor electronics and paper product recycling initiatives. Although many companies show strong support for sustainability initiatives, price and quality continue to dominate purchasing decisions. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, June 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-62). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77467 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77466 Optimizing the distribution network of perishable products to Small Format Stores Khandekar, Sachin; Titova, Aleksandra FoodCo is a leading foods company that has reputed brands and global operations with revenues in excess of USD 5Bn. Although FoodCo's sales to Small Format Stores (SFS) customers are a small part of the overall sales, it is a fast growing segment where FoodCo sees future. However, distribution to the SFS channel is a challenge - FoodCo needs to ship refrigerated and frozen products to over 40,000 stores through multiple distributors. Furthermore, such stores are characterized by low sales velocity relative to traditional retailers. The transactional nature of FoodCo's supply chain relationship with channel partners creates challenges for FoodCo in influencing key decisions in the supply chain. To tackle the problem, the authors reviewed the literature and interviewed experts and practitioners to understand best practices in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies across the world serving SFS. Although there were few direct parallels, collaboration was found to be a practice that successful companies employed. The authors also analyzed data including store sales, orders to FoodCo, promotions and supply chain costs, etc. They created a quantitative model that suggested that fees paid out to distributors for their full service are not proportional to the costs. They also concluded that FoodCo's lack of visibility into the sell-through demand made it subject to a strong bullwhip effect, leading to large amounts of inventories and shrinkage. Further, they identified that store sales were scattered geographically and that direct shipments to high selling stores were not possible. Based on the analysis, the authors recommend that FoodCo start collaborating with their channel partners. First, FoodCo could communicate the value of collaboration to its channel partners in order to gain their support. Then, FoodCo and the retailers can share their demand plan with each other, foster collaboration and elevate the manufacturer-retailer relationships to a strategic level. Further, FoodCo could build scale by consolidating volumes through a single re-distributor for channels where the sales volumes are very low. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-67). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77466 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77465 Creating a framework for a humanitarian response capacity index Knight, Ariahna N. (Ariahna Nichole) Humanitarian logistics encapsulates all supply chain efforts in response to a disaster or emergency. Despite the increased focus on humanitarian supply chains, there is not a general method for measuring the supply chain response capacity. We propose a model for humanitarian response capacity based on the stock levels and supplier capacity of an organization. We evaluate the model using inventory stock level data from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depots (UN HRD) and a combination of inventory stock level and supplier contracted replenishment time data from the New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM). Model results in response to four simulated disaster events graphically show the approximate number of people that can be served as well as the oscillations in capacity during the response and replenishment phases. Given the span from global (UN HRD) to municipal (NYC OEM) contexts, this response capacity model provides a framework for developing a more general index that can aid organizations in making important investment decisions in order to save lives with more efficient disaster response. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-51). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77465 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77464 Effects of truckload freight assignment methods on carrier capacity and pricing Kafarski, Lukasz; Caruso, David Allen The analysis is based on one year of transactional data from a major beverage company and interviews with asset based and non-asset based truckload carriers. Throughout our research we investigate the use of asset based carriers and brokers as unique sources of capacity on low volume and medium haul lanes. We examine price escalation issues in the context of load tender rejections and daily shipment volumes on a given lane. Our study revealed that as the shipment volume goes up on a lane, prices could escalate as much as 30-40% over rates originally contracted with primary carriers. In the case of rejections though, as prices go up, the probability of not covering a load comes down. Additionally, we propose a lane aggregation methodology, which decreases variability and simplifies freight procurement for long and short haul shipments. Finally, through a carrier proximity study we demonstrate that distance from carrier domicile to pick up location has an impact on pricing for short haul shipments. Based on our findings, we identified building network robustness and creating available carrier capacity as critical factors to sustainable pricing, while still being able to maintain a high service level. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-102). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77464 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77463 Building a framework for determining the optimal supplier shipping performance Hurd, Maximilian L. (Maximilian Lawrence); J. van Rensburg, Izak W Most companies aim for perfect on-time delivery from suppliers, since late deliveries can cause supply disruptions and raise the cost of inventory, transportation and coordination. But this assumes that companies do not incur expenses in increasing or maintaining supplier performance. Our thesis looks at the problem faced by those companies that do invest in suppliers to help them achieve a desired performance level. In these special cases, a perfect target may no longer yield the minimum cost incurred over a performance spectrum. Our thesis provides a framework that companies can use to determine an optimal target for timely deliveries by comparing the cost implications of different supplier performance levels. We pursue an empirical approach, using the data and metrics of an industrial equipment manufacturer that uses a hit-or-miss performance measure to evaluate on-time supplier deliveries. Within the scope of this performance management system, we determine the relevant cost categories. Using regression analysis, we create models projecting each category's expected behavior based on data we collect. Combining the models allows us to calculate a system optimal point at which the incremental cost of supplier development towards an improved performance target matches the benefit derived from avoided supply disruption. This performance target minimizes the total cost of the performance management system. While our framework is calibrated to a specific company, the models we create are general enough to be adapted by companies facing similar problems. By laying out our treatment of costs, we hope to make it feasible for other companies to calculate a target that makes sense: one that suppliers can achieve and purchasers can afford. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-69). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77463 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77462 Simulating a storage-production system with three oilseed crops Figer, Luiz This work developed a simulation model that is intended to be used for strategic investment decisions by a company that operates in a wide range of activities in the agriculture business in Brazil. Mostly, it is a tool that allows the user, in this case the company management, to quantitatively assess the results of their qualitative expectations for the business environment. I found that the supply of grains is potentially a higher uncertainty factor than demand, that different configurations of crushing capacity and storage impact the results with significant difference, depending on the demand and supply scenarios even in the near future. Knowing that uncertainty is unavoidable and largely impacts the business, I measured it and found that, yield uncertainty alone can impact profits dramatically. The model developed in this paper can easily be leveraged to include more sophisticated crushing rules and up to date market data. It can also be run timely and produce tailored reports. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-54). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77462 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77461 Modeling the impact of complexity on transportation Fernandez, Jose A. (Jose Antonio Fernandez Chavira); Okafor, Henry N This thesis aimed to understand the drivers of total transportation costs during supply chain complexity events, in particular new product launches, in a fast moving consumer goods company in the United States. The research specifically investigated which of the four key transportation cost drivers (line haul rates, length of haul, frequency of loads and regional factors) changed the most during a new product launch. The analysis showed that the main driver of transportation costs during a new product launch (for our case study) is the length of haul. This finding was used to further investigate how the allocation of transportation to factories within the distribution network affects the length of haul (and therefore total transportation costs) during a new product launch. The analysis also reveals that effective enforcement of line haul rates alone (with transport carriers) do not guarantee low transportation costs during new product launches. The total system transportation cost in 2011 was compared with the lowest cost mix of factories by transportation allocation. This cost comparison was done on the basis of the cost-to-serve each wholesaler in the distribution network. A model was then developed which can be used to predict the changes in transportation costs during supply chain complexity events, including specific variability. This research also revealed that total transportation costs (in the distribution network) increase significantly during complexity events and that the highest variability occurred in the high season for each launch location. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-75). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77461 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77460 Increasing Return on Assets through insourcing logistics Ghose, Devjit; Murphy, Kevin Insourcing and vertical integration often allow companies to gain competitive advantage by exercising a greater degree of control over their supply chain. In the case of ABC Oilfield Services, insourcing the transportation of their products to offshore oil rigs at sea - a function currently provided by their customers - will increase asset velocity of their most important tools, and allow them to service more customers with fewer tools. This is an especially important consideration in light of the fact that the offshore drilling market will see double-digit growth in the coming years. This paper examines the effect of such increased asset velocity on Return on Assets (ROA). Using detailed historical data of ABC shipments of their biggest revenue-generating tools, we modeled both the status quo logistics system of ABC, and an alternative system based on sound insourcing assumptions. We then compared the projected ROA of the two scenarios in order to gain insights into the relationship between insourcing and its likely effect on ROA. We attempt to quantify the asset velocity benefits of insourcing, but also show the surprising result that increased asset velocity can have a negative effect on revenue under common pricing schemes. While there may be several other factors which help in ultimately making the decision to insource, the paper provides an important contribution in helping decision makers see the effects of insourcing in the oilfield services industry more clearly, and identifying the conditions under which insourcing will have the biggest benefit to ROA. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-96). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77460 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77459 Evaluating inventory segmentation strategies for aftermarket service parts in heavy industry using linked discrete-event and Monte Carlo simulations Bradley, Randolph L. (Randolph Lewis) Heavy industries operate equipment having a long life to generate revenue or perform a mission. These industries must invest in the specialized service parts needed to maintain their equipment, because unlike in other industries such as automotive, there is often no aftermarket supplier. If parts are not on the shelf when needed, equipment sits idle while replacements are manufactured. Stock levels are often set to achieve an off-the-shelf fill rate goal using commercial inventory optimization tools, while supply chain performance is instead measured against a speed of service metric such as order fulfillment lead time, the time from order placement to customer receipt. When some parts are more important than others, and shipping delays are accounted for, there is ostensibly little correlation between these two metrics and setting stock levels devolves into an inefficient and expensive guessing game. This thesis resolves the disconnect between stock levels and service metrics performance by linking an existing discrete-event simulation of warehouse operations to a new Monte Carlo demand categorization and metrics simulation, predicting tomorrow's supply chain performance from today's logistics data. The insights gained here through evaluating an industry representative dataset apply generally to supply chains for aftermarket service parts. The simulation predicts that the stocking policy recommended by a simple strategy for inventory segmentation for consumable parts will not achieve the desired service metrics. An internal review board that meets monthly, and a quarterly customer acquisition policy, each degrade performance by imposing a periodic review policy on stock levels developed assuming a continuous review policy. This thesis compares the simple strategy to a sophisticated strategy for inventory segmentation, using simulation to demonstrate that with the latter, metrics can be achieved in one year, inventory investment lowered 20%, and buys for parts in low annual usage categories automated. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Vita. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-106). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77459 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77458 Estimation of run times in a freight rail transportation network Bonsra, Kunal (Kunal Baldev); Harbolovic, Joseph The objective of this thesis is to improve the accuracy of individual freight train run time predictions defined as the time between departure from an origin node to arrival at a destination node not including yard time. A correlation analysis is conducted to identify explanatory variables that capture predictable sources of delay and influence run times for use in a regression model. A regression model is proposed utilizing the following explanatory variables: rolling historical average, congestion window, meets, passes, overtakes, direction, arrival headway, and departure headway to predict train run times. The performance of the proposed regression model is compared against a baseline simple historical averaging technique for a two year period of actual train operational data. The proposed regression model, though subject to specific limitations, offers substantial improvements in accuracy over the baseline technique and is recommended as justifying further exploration by the railroad to ultimately enable more accurate train schedules with subsequent improvements in railroad capacity, customer service, and asset utilization. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-51). Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77458 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68904 e-Commerce fulfillment models for luxury brands in Asia Thomson, Benjamin R; Hu, Hao Asia-Pacific countries have experienced a rapid rise in Internet usage in recent history. China, in particular, has seen 40% of its population (or 500M people) connect to the Internet in the past 10 years, and continues to experience an increase in its user base. This large user base, coupled with a rise in wealthy households and per capita spending, is driving a dramatic increase in e-Commerce retail, specifically in the luxury goods space. Consumption of luxury goods in China has reached $9.4B in 2010, second only to Japan in the world. As luxury purchase rates continue to increase in China, luxury fashion brands are investing many resources to understand the customer, develop the market, establish the supply chain, and deliver the products. Polo Ralph Lauren (PRL), in order to continue its growth in China, is expanding aggressively through license reacquisitions and retail store developments. Furthermore, to provide its existing customers with additional products and enhanced services, and to capture consumers who live in cities without access to PRL's brick and mortar stores, PRL has set its vision to develop an e- Commerce business in China. This thesis provides a fundamental understanding of PRL's current business operations and of current e-Commerce fulfillment models for luxury apparel brands in China. An assessment of gaps was also conducted between current fulfillment operations of PRL and those of other luxury brands and 3PLs operating in China, specifically on delivery lead-time, last mile delivery options, end-to-end customer service, and return logistics. From this research, we recommend general methods for luxury brands to manage and provide best in class fulfillment service. For PRL, we specifically recommend the company maintain ownership of all customer-facing activities to ensure quality. We also advise PRL to integrate all customer information from retail to e-Commerce, further strengthening its service offering and brand image. Furthermore, we recommend PRL to locate and outsource its initial DC in Shanghai and partner with FedEx and EMS for fulfillment. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-87). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68904 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68902 Merging qualitative and quantitative criteria for freight investment using scenario planning Sánchez-Valero, Miguel Ángel Freight transportation is vital to the economy of the United States. The total volume of freight moving inside the nation is expected to continue growing, while the U.S. transportation system is aging and becoming more costly to maintain. The revenue streams that allow for its preservation and expansion are decreasing rapidly. Because resources are scarce and long-range consequences difficult to anticipate, great care must be placed in freight transportation investment decisions, a complex process usually involving many stakeholders with diverse interests, modal and jurisdictional silos, diverse and vocal constituents, and a set of final system users that are typically removed from the decision-making process. This thesis explores how freight investment decisions can be helped by the use of scenario planning, a collaborative approach that enhances consensus-building and helps organizations to shift from prediction to preparation for the future, converting uncertainty into a competitive advantage. First, a review of the relevant literature is conducted in order to present a comprehensive description of scenario planning and the transportation planning process. Afterwards, case studies are presented to picture the observed practices in transportation infrastructure planning at different stages of a project lifecycle, followed by a characterization of past and current uses of scenario planning in transportation investment decisions. At that point, a methodology to evaluate alternative investments, strategies or policies under different scenarios is introduced, providing a hypothetical example of use. Finally, a list of recommendations are identified and explained. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; and, (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-168). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68902 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68901 The effects of vendor and quality control variability in the procurement of raw materials in a bio-pharmaceutical company Wheeler, Jake T Pharmaceutical companies have traditionally placed little emphasis on supply chain efficiencies and operations costs. With the changing landscape of expiring intellectual property rights and increased market segmentation, the need for improved supplier relations and inventory management is becoming paramount. This thesis presents a study of a procurement system within a biopharmaceutical company. The many sources of variation in delivery lead times from both suppliers and internal departments coupled with variation in manufacturing demand, has resulted in excess raw-material inventory at the company. By using discrete-events-simulation software to model the system and its inputs, we generate insights that can help the materials management team maximize their efforts to improve the system performance. In this particular case, it was found that reducing supplier lead time variability was far more effective in reducing the need for inventory than reducing average lead times or even internal lead times from the Quality Control department. The pharmaceutical company involved in this study would be best served by focusing its efforts on working with suppliers to increase the consistency of delivery for their raw materials. This increased consistency will allow them to reduce total inventory costs by reducing the variability of the raw-material supplies. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68901 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68900 Using real-time truck transportation information to predict customer rejections and refrigeration-system fuel efficiency in packaged salad distribution Seminario, Carlos (Carlos Manuel Seminario Velarde); Marks, Emmanuel Companies that operate cold supply chains can greatly benefit from information availability and data generation. The abundance of information now available to cold chain operators and harvested from every echelon of the supply chain, ranging from the procurement process to the sales and customer service processes, provides an opportunity for logistics organizations to monitor and improve their operations. It is increasingly imperative to transform data into meaningful information that creates a competitive advantage for early adopters. This thesis attempts to determine how to make best use of and effectively interpret the information generated by trailer mounted temperature sensors and geospatial data collection devices during refrigerated transportation of packaged salads. The study covers only the transportation segment from the manufacturer's distribution center to the customer's (grocery retailer) distribution center. This thesis uses regression analysis in an effort to create a model that effectively uses realtime transportation information to identify the elements that can create a competitive advantage for cold chain operators. The main performance measurements subject to analysis in this thesis are reefer-unit fuel consumption and rejections of salad products at the customer's drop location. Regression yields a formula that can predict more than 70% reefer fuel consumption. However, with the independent variables available in the data at our disposal, it is not possible to build a model the effectively predicts product rejections. The findings of this thesis can help operators of transportation cold chains better manage fuel consumption by isolating and improving the independent variables we identified. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-141). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68900 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68896 Marine dock optimization for a bulk chemicals manufacturing facility Nath, Gaurav (Gaurav Sudhindra); Ramos, Brian U.S. petrochemical manufacturers operate in a very challenging environment on account of the recent economic crisis, volatility in crude oil prices, rising capacity in the Middle East, etc. Recently, there has been a focus on logistics costs and, in particular, capacity utilization as a means to retain a competitive edge. This thesis focuses on marine dock optimization for a major bulk chemicals manufacturer. The authors have surveyed the research literature to find commonalities in various approaches to the problem of dock optimization- in the petrochemical shipping industry as well as in allied operational environments such as container shipping. They discuss the inputs that would be needed to build a decision-support-system designed for the express purpose of measuring dock utilization. Following a review of the industry context and relevant literature, the authors develop a demonstrative framework that captures the key variables and constraints affecting loading and unloading operations. The authors speculate that multiple simulation and optimization techniques could sufficiently address the quantification of operational uncertainties at the marine dock. However, emphasis is placed upon the need for thorough data gathering and correct prioritization of variables and constraints affecting efficiency of dock operations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-30). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68896 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68895 Where did all of the totes go? : a study in supply chain design Mulvey Connolly, Erin (Erin Helen); Keane, Emily Corporations are increasingly looking at ways to incorporate environmental sustainability initiatives into their businesses to lower operating costs and improve the value of their brands for customers that expect higher social responsibility from corporations. These environmental initiatives, often called "win-win" for their dual effect on long-term shareholder value, are easy to identify but often hard to incorporate into existing operations. One such initiative in the retail industry involves delivering products to customers in reusable plastic cartons, rather than corrugated cardboard. One of the largest challenges when designing and implementing this type of supply chain system is developing a reverse logistics strategy that ensures carton return by the consumers, whom the corporation must convince to participate in closing the logistics loop. This thesis analyzes a pilot program conducted by a consumer products company, referred to as the Sponsor, where reusable plastic cartons were used to deliver orders to one of their corporate customers. Process mapping, qualitative interviews, and data analysis were utilized to understand factors contributing to the unacceptably high rate of carton attrition. Using the results of this analysis, two new design tracks are proposed for the delivery of the Sponsor's products at MIT. One design relies on the current operating systems and structures to minimize investment by the Sponsor, while the other design is aimed at maximizing effort to optimize the system. The proposed programs consider both operational practicalities in the logistical design and communication and incentive efforts that are needed to drive consumer behavior to maximize carton return and lower attrition rates. We believe the recommended implementation of the maximized effort design will result in lower carton attrition, which will provide the necessary proof of concept for the Sponsor to roll the program out to additional customers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-83). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68895 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68894 Optimized transfer-pricing model for Asia Pacific Liang, Kelly (Kelly JieRu) Transfer price is an important field of study for profit maximization. As more multinational enterprises (MNEs) are involved in global trading in the recent decades, the objective to set an optimized transfer price is more crucial than ever since the difference in tax rates and tariffs have sophisticated impacts on the overall profit for the corporation. In this thesis, which focuses primarily on Asia Pacific, I will review historical transfer pricing methods, explore the factors that affect transfer price determination, and construct a mathematical model to determine the optimal transfer price by comparing and contrasting the different transfer pricing methods with data from a hypothetical company. Particularly, I will illustrate the effects of taxes and tariffs on the determination of transfer price. Consequently, I will perform sensitivity analysis with respects to tariffs, taxes, and shipping costs. The thesis will conclude with recommendations on the optimized transfer pricing methods and insights on the implications for the method. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 35). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68894 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68826 Collaborative direct to store distribution : the consumer packaged goods network of the future Le, Nanette Thi; Sheerr, Melanie Ann Promotional events are a common occurrence in the grocery and drug industries. These events require consumer packaged goods manufacturers to deliver a large volume of product, beyond the typical demand, to the retailer in a short period of time. Two of these manufacturers, Manufacturer A and General Mills, are interested in exploring the benefits of an innovative distribution strategy: collaboratively shipping their promotional products direct to the retailer stores. This thesis describes a modified minimum cost flow optimization model, which was developed to compare the costs of this multi-manufacturer collaborative distribution strategy with two more traditional distribution approaches in which each company would deliver product independently. The first traditional strategy entails independently delivering product to the retailer distribution center, from where the retailer would transport the product to the stores. The second traditional strategy involves each manufacturer independently delivering directly to the retailer stores. Using a retailer that participated in a trial implementation of this collaborative distribution strategy in 2010 as a case study, the model is solved to find the lowest cost distribution strategy for the region served by each retailer distribution center. Results show that collaborative distribution is the most cost effective strategy in two thirds of the regions that were studied, and that this finding is fairly robust with respect to the input parameters. However, cost savings to the supply chain from employing the optimal strategy are relatively small, with savings to the retailer coming at an additional expense to the manufacturers. Therefore, this thesis concludes that the manufacturers' incentive to employ collaborative distribution depends upon a method of sharing savings with the retailer, or upon the expectation of increased revenue due to higher sales from employing this distribution strategy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68826 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68825 Risk sharing in contracts : the use of fuel surcharge programs Kanteti, Madhavi; Levine, Jordan T Various industries employ risk sharing contracts to manage the risks and volatility associated with commodity prices, inaccurate customer demand forecasts, or unpredictable events. For example commodity futures that enable hedging, vendor buy-back programs, and insurance policies are examples of risk sharing contracts. The volatility in the price of fuel in the latter part of the twentieth century to the present has required the various parties involved in the trucking industry to employ risk-sharing contracts as an addendum to payment for services in the form of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharges are effective in the sense that their structure transfers risk of fuel price volatility from carrier to shipper, and that industry participants typically understand the implications and reasoning behind the fuel surcharges. That said, there is no universal industry standard, and current fuel surcharge schedules remain based off of legacy diesel fuel prices in the range of $1.10-1.50 per gallon. Through mathematical analysis of a large shipper's annual costs, interviews with large shippers that have recently made transformations in their fuel surcharge schedules, a survey that gathered the thoughts and opinions of approximately one hundred motor carrier representatives, and multiple interviews with motor carrier representatives, the authors conclude that the fuel surcharge system can be improved for industry-wide benefit. Transition to a zero trigger point-based fuel surcharge schedule, the use of a carefully selected escalator, and the use of the national Department of Energy (DOE) retail price of diesel will prevent underbidding on lanes, increase transparency, reduce administration, and further increase the resilience of the United States truckload (TL) industry. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-93). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68825 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68824 Incorporating cycle time uncertainty to improve railcar fleet sizing Jagatheesan, Jay; Kilcullen, Ryan This thesis involves railcar fleet sizing strategies with a specific company in the chemical industry. We note that the identity of the company in this report has been disguised, and some portions of the fleets have been omitted to mask their actual sizes. However, all analysis in this thesis was conducted on actual data. In our research, we evaluate the appropriateness of both deterministic and stochastic fleet sizing models for this company. In addition, we propose an economic model that is adapted from a basic inventory management policy that can be applied to fleet sizing in order to arrive at a cost-driven solution. Through our research, we demonstrate that the fleet sizing strategy of this company can be improved by incorporating transit time variability into the fleet sizing model. Additionally, we show that fleet sizes can be reduced by accurately characterizing the distributions of the underlying transit and customer holding time data. Finally, we show the potential value of considering economic factors to arrive at a fleet sizing decision that balances the cost of over-capacity with the cost of an insufficient supply of railcars. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-79). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68824 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68823 A qualitative mapping and evaluation of an aerospace supply chain strategy Hung, Jonathan (Jonathan W.); Pierce, Nicholas An effective supply chain is critical to the success of the products and services sold by companies. Companies must have an explicit understanding of what the supply chain strategy is in order to evaluate it. While most organizations have well-documented business strategies, they lack the same for their supply chain strategy. The methodology proposed by Perez-Franco, Singh, and Sheffi (201 1a; 201 1b) is a way to evaluate a supply chain strategy by using interviews, surveys, and discussions. The goal for this project was to test the applicability of the Perez-Franco et al. methodology to the aerospace industry through an applied case. We conducted a qualitative mapping of the supply chain strategy for a specific satellite program in Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS). This thesis research is the first time the methodology has been applied and tested with a company in the aerospace industry. As a whole, LMSS has increased focus on their supply chain, and works to directly align their supply chain with their business objectives. For our case, we selected a specific project within the Space Systems division that lacks an explicitly stated supply chain strategy and has a potential gap with objectives. Through our research, we found that the Perez-Franco et al. methodology is applicable to the aerospace industry. As a result of this case application, we propose and present potential deviations and additions to build upon the methodology that yields interesting insights. The results with LMSS revealed areas of disagreement identified through evaluating themes of support, consistency, and sufficiency. Additionally, the methodology allowed us to conduct a diagnostic of the supply chain strategy against business goals. The primary conclusion in the diagnostic was a perceived conflict between quality and affordability initiatives. This is the key recommendation that the company should investigate further to locate the root cause(s) of the disagreement. Outcomes from this case show that the methodology can be applied to a wide number of industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-56). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68823 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68822 Building a business case for corporate fleets to adopt vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) and participate in the regulation service market De los Ríos Vergara, Andrés; Nordstrom, Kristen E Electric (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV) continue to gain attention and market share, not only as options for consumers but also for corporate fleets. EVs and PHEVs can contribute to lower operating costs through reduced maintenance requirements and enhanced fuel economy. In addition, a fleet of EVs or PHEVs, when parked and aggregated in a sizeable number, can provide regulation services to the grid through the electricity stored in the vehicle's batteries. This opportunity is known as Vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G). This thesis evaluates the economics for V2G-enabled fleets to participate in the regulation services market. In order to build a business case for fleet managers, we constructed a 10-year cash flow model that compares the operating, infrastructure, and capital costs, as well as the revenue opportunities for EVs, PHEVs, and ICEs. To quantify potential revenues, we adapted a tool that the ISO New England has used to simulate the revenues of participants in the regulation market for an alternative energy pilot. We show that ICEs, while having the lowest retail value, actually have the greatest NPV due to their high operating costs and inability to participate in the regulation services market. EVs have the highest retail value, but due to their large battery size are able to provide the most regulation services. The opportunity for V2G is critical for the attractiveness of the EV. PHEVs offer lower V2G revenue opportunity than the EVs but have greater operational flexibility. We determined that V2G revenue potential is driven by the charger capacity and battery size and there are tradeoffs associated with these components. A larger battery and charger will generate more money from regulation services, but their high investment cost may outweigh these benefits. The correct combination of charger capacity, battery size, and state of charge (SOC) is important. If the charger capacity is too large and SOC too high or low, a small battery can be charged or depleted too quickly, hindering its ability to provide regulation services. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-98). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68822 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68821 Multi-echelon inventory optimization for an oil services company Chalapong, Michael; Lazarus, Jake In the oilfield services industry, healthy margins and the criticality of product availability have often over shadowed the need for operational efficiency. Although those factors have not changed, the emergence of stronger industry competition and challenging economic climates have prompted ABC company to explore efficiency gains via supply chain optimization. This thesis examines and assesses opportunities for ABC Company to employ statistical inventory models, understand a variety of factors that influence inventory levels and costs, and improve its network structure. As many inventory models are not designed to accommodate SKUs that have very low rates of consumption, we also propose a methodology that will provide operational guidance and cost implications to address these types of SKUs. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 56). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68821 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68820 Modeling order guidelines to improve truckload utilization Banik, Jaya; Rinehart, Kyle Freight vehicle capacity, whether it be road, ocean or air transport, is highly underutilized. This under-utilization presents an opportunity for companies to reduce their vehicular traffic and reduce their carbon footprint through greater supply chain integration. This thesis describes the impact of ordering guidelines on the transport efficiency of a large firm and how those guidelines and associated practices can be changed in order to gain better efficiency. To that end, we present three recommendations on improving the guidelines based on the shipment data analysis. First, we discuss the redundancy of one of the company's fill metrics based on a scatter plot analysis and a chi-square independence test. Second, we explore the impact of using linear programming to allocate SKUs to different shipment, highlighting the reduction in the number of shipments through better truck mixing. Finally, we divide the SKUs into three groups: cube-constrained, neutral, and weight-constrained. Based on this segmentation, we present a basic model that mixes different SKUs and helps a shipment to achieve a much higher utilization rate. The application of the last two findings can be further explored to address under-utilization in freight carriers across different industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-37). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68820 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68819 Supply chain responsiveness for a large retailer Anand, Sunil (Sunil Harbhushankumar); Song, Xiaobei A large U.S. based retailer underwent a large, complex multi-year supply chain network transformation. This transformation resulted in significant savings in logistics costs. Additionally, the regional distribution center that was introduced as part of this transformation as a new node between the supplier and the store became the decision making center for placing purchase orders with suppliers and for receiving and shipping the purchase order to individual stores. This resulted in longer lead times causing a change in the in-store units held and therefore, directly impacting the net sales. This thesis focuses on establishing the relationship between the stores performance and lead-time, review-time combinations in both supply chain networks, the original direct to store and the new regional distribution based networks. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 73). Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68819 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68818 Supply chain strategy in post-earthquake Haiti Alexander, Scott C., M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. [41]-[42]).; Introduction: Partners In Health (PIH) is an international, non-profit healthcare organization with operations in several countries on multiple continents. PIH focuses on providing healthcare treatment to people living in some of the poorest places in the world, and has been operating in Haiti since 1985. At that time, PIH established a small community clinic in the central Haiti village of Cange. Today that facility has grown to become an entire medical complex, featuring a 104-bed, full-service hospital with two operating rooms, adult and pediatric wards, and clinics treating a variety of diseases and issues, from women's health to infectious diseases. In addition, Zamni Lasante ("Partners In Health" in Haitian Creyeol) has also expanded its operations to 11 other sites across Haiti's Central Plateau and beyond (Figure 1). Today, ZL ranks as one of the largest nongovernmental health care providers in Haiti - serving a catchment area of 1.2 million across the Central Plateau and the Lower Artibonite. ZL employs over 4,000 people, almost all of them Haitians, including doctors, nurses and community health workers (Zamni Lasante/ Haiti). From its beginnings 25 years ago, PIH/ZL has grown tremendously, and recent years have been no exception. Since 2004, patient encounters have increased almost threefold, from 0.9 million to 2.6 million, and the number of clinical sites has almost doubled. This growth has corresponded to an increase in drugs and supplies. In 2006, approximately 1000 m3 of drugs and supplies were moved through the system. Only two years later, in 2008, that number had more than doubled to 2200 m3 . This significant increase has greatly strained the underlying supply chain. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68818 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61189 Risk from network disruptions in an aerospace supply chain Wilson, Bryan K. (Bryan Keith) This thesis presents methods for determining the effects of risk from disruptions using an aerospace supply chain as the example, primarily through the use of a computer simulation model. Uncertainty in the current marketplace requires managers to be cognizant of the adverse impact of risk on their company's performance. However, managers who lack formal procedures for dealing with the potential impact of risk often are caught not knowing how much to invest in risk mitigation strategies. A computer simulation model representing a supply chain for a space vehicle was used to test different disruption scenarios to determine their impact on total production duration time. Scenarios ranging from suppliers not providing parts on time to quality test failures to disease pandemics were all considered. Randomness was incorporated through use of a stochasticity factor that was applied uniformly throughout the model. Output of the model was used to develop confidence percentiles for the complete duration times. Through testing of the various scenarios using the model we learned that most disruptions will add a deterministic time to the total estimated duration time of the system, regardless of the location of the disruption in the supply chain. In addition, we showed that a thorough review must be performed when choosing the stochasticity factor due to its large influence in determining total duration times and performance percentiles. The creation of the confidence percentiles allows the aerospace company to use the model throughout the entire 3 to 4 year production process to continually update and evaluate their buffer times and likelihood of meeting target completion dates. This buffer time can then be turned into a key performance index to better manage this supply chain. This model was created for a real supply chain, and it is currently being used by the aerospace company to help them plan and make appropriate decisions in regards to risk mitigation strategies in preparation for production of the space vehicle. They hope to expand the use of computer simulation models throughout the rest of their division to help drive down costs by increasing efficiencies in their planning. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-77). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61189 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61188 Multi-echelon inventory management for a fresh produce retail supply chain Suryawanshi, Yogeshwar D. (Yogeshwar Dattatraya); Hsien, Thomas Perishability presents a challenging problem in inventory management for the fresh produce industry since it can lead to higher inventory costs and lower service levels. If a supply chain has multiple echelons, that further complicates the issue since companies have an added risk of not having the right amount of product at the right location at the right time. We conduct our research on Chiquita's Fresh Express supply chain. We analyze the impact of perishability on total relevant costs. Our research focuses on determining the optimal inventory policy for the system considering inventory holding costs, shrinkage costs, lost sales costs, forecast accuracy and service levels. We test the sensitivity of the system with respect to forecast errors and the transportation lead time. We developed a discrete-event simulation model using Arena software to conduct the research. Our research demonstrates that by lowering the current target on-hand inventory levels at the distribution center and retail stores, inventory holding costs and shrinkage costs are reduced significantly. Under the optimal inventory policy, the system can save 31% in costs, improve the item fill rate at the distribution center, reduce the total shrinkage volume, and maintain high service levels of more than 95% at the retail stores. Our sensitivity analysis shows that the system is very sensitive to the forecast errors. Additionally, we recommend keeping the transportation lead time as low as possible to maximize the products' lifetime at the retail stores. Reducing the forecast errors or the transportation lead time would reduce the total relevant cost of the system while improving the item fill rates across the supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-84). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61188 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61187 Distribution networks consolidation and optimization for a large industrial conglomerate Sridurongkatum, Phol Redesigning the distribution networks for the company's various supply chains to lower the cost of delivering products to customers is crucial to company's competitiveness. Redesign includes changing warehouse locations for a specific product to be closer to customers and warehouse consolidation, which requires sharing warehouse space by more than one product type and closing some existing warehouses that are not cost efficient to operate. The objective of this project is to develop a decision tool to help an industrial conglomerate makes decisions related to the redesign its distribution networks. The data collection was done through collaboration with company's representatives. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model was developed as a tool to solve the optimization problem, which involves moving 9 product types from 21 manufacturing plants, through 22 warehouses, and to 26 destination zones,. The results from the model provides a useful information for the company about which warehouses should be retained, which warehouses should be closed, and what would be the new distribution networks, in order to minimize total distribution costs while still satisfy the customers' demand. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 69). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61187 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61186 How to utilize hedging and a fuel surcharge program to stabilize the cost of fuel Shehadi, Charles A., III (Charles Anthony); Witalec, Michael R This paper looks at some of these travails as well as the common tools used to approach a volatile priced commodity, diesel fuel. It focuses on the impacts of hedging for companies that are directly impacted through the consumption of diesel fuel in addition to companies that are indirectly impacted because they outsource their transportation. It examines the impact of a fuel surcharge and how it distributes risk throughout the supply chain. To complement the research, analysis was conducted in the form of a survey to benchmark the industry with respect to current practices of hedging and fuel surcharges, a sensitivity test of a fuel surcharge matrix to find its appropriate usage, and a simulation to provide guidance as to the appropriate strategy for hedging. Lessons learned from the survey flowed into the sensitivity testing and simulation. These three segments of analysis highlighted the problem of volatility, increasing cost, and inability to pass on the cost, proving the true pain of fuel in the market. Ultimately, the paper answers: How to utilize hedging and a fuel surcharge program to stabilize the cost of fuel? The survey showed the wide adoption of fuel surcharges, confirming the academic research. The sensitivity test proved the need to keep the escalator variable in line with a carrier's actual fuel efficiency and standardize for all carriers. The simulation recommended longer term derivatives. Putting this together, the fuel surcharge establishes stability for the carrier, at the risk of the shipper. The shipper must maintain that stability through its maintenance of the escalator in the fuel surcharge matrix. Additionally, the shipper should hedge fuel via long term derivatives to establish personal fuel cost stability, creating a competitive advantage and enabling the shipper to compete more effectively. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-103). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61186 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61185 Rapid deployment of oil-drilling tools utilizing distribution network and inventory strategies Rahim, Ryan DTS is an oil and gas services company that delivers drilling tools to six major customer districts in the continental U.S. After the tools are used at a rig, they are transported to the closest repair and maintenance (MTC) facility in either Colorado (CO) or Oklahoma (OK) where they are disassembled and reconditioned for use on a future job. The tools are modular and require custom assembly and programming, depending on the requirements of the well. On occasion, DTS receives urgent orders for drilling tools to replace failed tools or to cater to unexpected demand. These urgent orders are expected to be delivered to customer sites in less than 24 hours from when an order is received. DTS wants to analyze the supply chain impact of consolidating MTC activities to a single facility for operational efficiencies. The rationalization of MTC activities to the CO facility affects DTS's ability to deliver tools within 24 hours due to the longer transportation times to customer districts. How can this longer transportation time be mitigated? Our research shows that using the OK facility as a postponement and distribution hub allows DTS to continue servicing expedited orders within 24 hours and results in a 28% logistics cost savings over a direct shipment method. The postponement strategy entails staging reconditioned inventory at both the OK and CO facility where they can be configured for use within 4 hours of receiving an order. By simulating the movement of inventory around the closed inventory loop, we determined that the total number of tools in the network and the MTC capacity are two important levers of control that affect the availability of reconditioned inventory to service demand. We found that we were able to fulfill a target item fill rate by calculating capital inventory required using an "order up to" inventory policy and setting facility capacity at one standard deviation above average demand. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-76). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61185 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61184 Environmental, operational and financial sustainability of packaging methods in delivery businesses Ng, Joshua (Zi Jie Joshua); Chow, Kendall In retail delivery companies, packaging is used to transport goods to customers while preventing damage, shrinkage and loss of the contents. With consumer preferences reflecting the growing concern for the environment, retail delivery businesses are at the crossroads of implementing a sustainable operational and financial business model of delivering packages to customers. In this thesis, we will address the issue of sustainable packaging in retail delivery companies by evaluating the financial, environmental and operational viability of such strategies. The thesis will be limited to the downstream order fulfillment cycle from the retail delivery company to the customer. We will focus on three areas applicable to sustainable packaging. The first area is materials innovation where we will analyze alternative materials suitable for retail delivery packaging. The second area involves waste elimination through reducing packaging material use and reusing of packaging materials through a returnable tote program. Lastly, we will understand the implementation challenges to increase the success rate of the strategies mentioned earlier. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-148). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61184 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61183 Development of Panama as a logistics hub and the impact on Latin America Muñoz, Daniel, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rivera Virgüez, Myriam Liliana The Panamanian government is executing an aggressive economic growth initiative to transform the country into a regional logistics hub, like Singapore or Dubai. Two elements of the initiative are expansion of the Panama Canal and development of the Panama Pacifico Project, a large logistics park. The government initiative is analyzed with respect to the logistics hubs in Singapore and Dubai by 1) identifying a structure of critical factors for developing a logistics cluster, 2) using this structure to analyze the feasibility of Panama becoming a major logistics hub, and 3) exploring the impact of a logistics_hub in Panama on the Latin American network of ports. We make recommendations so that Panama can speedily develop its logistics hub, and so that Latin American ports whose existence is threatened by this development can adapt. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-86). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61183 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61182 Impact of demographics on supply chain risk management attitudes : prevention vs response Mendes Toste Dinis, Nuno Miguel There is no doubt that the 21st century is the century of globalization. The great majority of companies' supply chains span multiple countries, cultures, and industries. However people in different parts of the globe perceive supply chain risks differently. Is it possible to predict the way people manage their supply chain in terms of prevention versus response, based on demographics? Using a large-scale worldwide, online survey as a base, conducted by the MIT Global SCALE Initiative, this research project analyzes the relationship between a dependent variable (Prevention vs. Response) and independent variables (demographics). The analysis shows that there are indeed demographic factors that can help predict how people manage supply chain risk. The following demographic factors need to be known: country of origin, gender, primary field of study, and job function. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 73). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61182 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61181 Distribution network modeling and optimization for rapid and cost-effective deployment of oilfield drilling equipment Martchouk, Alexander AAA, a large oil and gas field services company, is in the business of providing drilling services to companies that extract and market hydrocarbons. One of the key success factors in this industry is the ability to provide comprehensive drilling solutions on short notice and in demanding conditions; fast and reliable delivery of drilling equipment to well sites is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction and market share. The company is considering a reconfiguration of its tool distribution network in order to facilitate a more rapid and cost-effective delivery of drilling tools to drilling sites. Specifically, the company is considering using either a "pure" hub-and-spoke distribution setup, with one of its major facilities - OK - serving as a logistics hub, or a hub-and-spoke system with postponement capabilities, whereby the OK facility will also have certain assembly and configuration capabilities. This thesis develops a model of the AAA distribution network and creates a simulation of the flow of drilling tools through the two alternative network configurations. As customer service levels and logistics costs are evaluated under various levels of end-user demand, both network setups are shown to increase the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of tool deliveries. The key finding is that the hub-and-spoke with postponement design appears to be superior in terms of logistics costs and timely deliveries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61181 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61180 Modeling supply chain benefits of efficient assortment Lew, Marta The recent developments in retail industry created a challenging environment for companies in the sector and their trade partners. Retailers' focus on recovering their financial results through eliminating unproductive inventory and reducing unnecessary complexity has led to an increased pressure on their suppliers. In order to adapt to the new market settings, a major manufacturer of consumer goods wanted to be able to look at its product portfolio through the perspective of its direct clients. This capability was established in form of a decision model which utilizes Point of Sales, operational, and financial data of the company's downstream partners to recommend assortment changes at item, category and cross-category levels, as well as to project results of these changes. The tool uses the input data and information on product variety to assess risk of lost sales and to quantify possible improvements in product availability, retailers' logistics costs, efficiency of their operations, utilization of supply chain assets, and-perhaps most importantly-their revenues and profits. The new decision model reinforced the manufacturer's competence to support objectives of clients while continuing to pursue its own goal of offering end-customers products which they need, trust and value. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-97). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61180 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61179 Impact of demographics on supply chain risk management practices Kanyagui, Kenneth (Kenneth K.) Do demographic factors play a role in the choice of supply chain risk management practices by supply chain professionals? Are there stronger relationships between certain demographic factors and supply chain risk management practices? Most supply chains today cuts across multiple countries, cultures, languages, income levels, and industries just to name a few. This means there are differences in supply chain risk management behaviors or attitudes. Is there a way to understand some of these differences better and will the management of global supply chains benefit from this knowledge? Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Page 98 blank. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61179 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61178 WFP supply chain capacity in Ethiopia : an analysis of its sufficiency, constraints & impact Kim, Christina Sujin; Singha, Javed The WFP's transport of food aid to Ethiopia's landlocked population is constrained by supply chain bottlenecks at the port, and limited availability of trucks for inland transport. How can the WFP supply chain be optimized to effectively operate within the given constraints? First, we assess Ethiopia's current food transport capacity - a critical factor for the WFP's ability to deliver humanitarian food aid. Specifically, we review the current and forecasted movement of goods, gather and analyze information on transport capacity versus demand, and address the impact of government policies and regulations on the road transport sector. As a result, our research helps the WFP in analyzing quantitative and qualitative factors used in selecting routes and mitigating port bottleneck issues. The results of our study may be used by the WFP and other humanitarian organizations which aid distressed populations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-67). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61178 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61003 Analysis of demand variability and robustness in strategic transportation planning Lokhandwala, Ahmedali (Ahmedali Abbas) Creation of a long-term strategic transportation plan is critical for companies in order to make informed decisions about fleet capacity, number of drivers needed, fleet allocation to domiciles, etc. However, the inherent demand variability present on a transportation network, in terms of weekly occurrences of lane volume, results in emergency weekly shipments that deviate from the long-term plan. This leads to a sub-optimal weekly execution, resulting in higher overall costs, compared to initial projections. Hence, it is important to address this variability while creating a strategic plan, such that it is robust enough to handle these variations, and is easy to execute at the same time. The purpose of this thesis is to create a stochastic annual plan using linear programming techniques for addressing demand variability, and prove its robustness using simple heuristics, so that it is easy to execute at an operational level. Through the use of simulations, it is shown that the proposed planning methodology is within 6% of the optimal solution costs and handles 71% of the demand variability occurring on a weekly basis, making it easy for operational managers to execute. Thus, the proposed plan reduces the optimality gap between long-term planning and weekly operations, creating a tighter bound over the projected versus actual costs incurred, which helps develop a better transportation strategy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; and, (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-122). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61003 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60836 Using a total landed cost model to foster global logistics strategy in the electronics industry Jearasatit, Apichart Global operation strategies have been widely used in the last several decades as many companies and industries have taken advantage of lower production costs. However, in choosing a location, companies often only consider labor cost and, as a result, overall costs may not be reduced. What other costs besides labor should be considered in locating a global facility? This research examines sourcing, manufacturing and distribution costs and develops a total landed cost model for global operations. We use this total landed cost model to estimate the total cost from raw material to the customer for one sample company operation, Tyco Electronics, across multiple manufacturing and customer countries. This total landed cost model was used to analyze the cost for each manufacturing location, customer, and mode of transportation as well as predict the effect from risks and uncertainties in global supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-63). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60836 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60835 Managing growth of a non-profit healthcare supply chain in Haiti Heberley, Christine L. (Christine Laura); Hoover, Matthew F Partners in Health's (PIH) supply chain in Haiti has become strained over the past five years due to the organization's rapid growth. Under the current system, the majority of PIH's products are obtained through an annually placed order. All goods from this order are stored at the central warehouse in Cange, which acts as a hub, until those goods are needed at individual clinics. As annual orders increase in size to support PIH's expanding operations, the limited size of the central warehouse has become a constraint, making a change in current inventory policies necessary. In order to formulate revised inventory policies for PIH's Haiti operations, we developed a spreadsheet model that uses historical consumption data of drugs and medical supplies to forecast demand over the next three years. This demand data is then be used as input to run and compare the existing annual order policy with ordering policies with more frequent reviews. These inventory policies are then evaluated against the central warehouse size constraints to recommend an inventory policy better suited to meet PIH's needs. We find that more frequent orders drastically reduces warehouse space requirements while maintaining high service levels. It is hoped that PIH can continue to use this model to determine future inventory policy needs. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 69). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60835 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60834 Incorporating traffic patterns to improve delivery performance Dickinson, Melody J; Leifer, Jillian Traffic, construction and other road hazards impact the on-time performance of companies that operate delivery fleets. This study examines how incorporating traffic patterns in vehicle route development compares with standard, deterministic methods. We seek to understand how using historical data improves both planning and overall delivery efficiency. Our analysis contrasts manifests that were developed by an industry standard routing software tool with projections that use traffic data by benchmarking them against actual routes run by drivers. In addition to evaluating the differences between route planning tools, we explore why those differences exist, including how uncertainty is incorporated. Evidence suggests that incorporating traffic patterns into vehicle routing does produce improved solutions. Needless to say, the delivery process needs to be evaluated holistically. Our recommendations involve the various steps for creating and executing a route. Operational considerations, the potential for improving customer service, and areas for further exploration are discussed. This thesis is being conducted with sponsorship from a leading consumer products company and in coordination with the CarTel mobile sensing data project at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-64). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60834 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60833 The impact of bidding aggregation levels on truckload rates Collins, Julia M. (Julia Marie); Quinlan, R. Ryan The objective of this thesis was to determine if line-haul rates are impacted by bid type, and if aggregation of bidding lanes can reduce costs for both shippers and carriers. Using regression analysis, we developed a model to isolate and test the cost effects that influence line-haul rate for long-haul shipments. We have determined that aggregation of low-volume lanes from point-to-point lanes to aggregated lanes can provide costs savings when lanes with origins and destinations in close proximity to each other can be bundled. In addition, bidding out region-to-region lanes can supplement point-to-point lanes by reducing the need to turn to the spot market. The model shows that bundling lanes can provide significant cost savings to a shipper because contract lanes of any type are on average less costly than spot moves. This thesis provides guidelines and suggestions for aggregation when creating bids during the first stage of the truckload procurement process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60833 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60832 Suggested strategies and best practices in private supply chain disaster response Budhiraj, Karn; De la Torre Castro, Gabriel In times of disaster, demand for goods and services in affected areas spikes. Private companies generally have contingencies in place for business continuity; however, most lack a strategic approach to join the general population's relief efforts. Why are some companies more effective within disaster relief supply chains than others? How can a company approach this area of opportunity? This thesis explores what a disaster is and how disaster management works; recognizing what stakeholders participate during disaster recovery efforts; and extrapolating best practices applied during past disasters by companies that have been deemed successful. Based on the strategies identified during our research, we came up with a framework of nine best practices and suggest how to apply it across a range of ten industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Vitae. Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60832 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60831 Measuring environmental and social sustainability in the apparel supply chain Agbonkhese, Sophie Elise Historically, the apparel industry has operated in an unsustainable way. Materials, energy, and other resources are used inefficiently throughout the apparel supply chain, leading to unsustainable levels of waste generation. Post-purchase use and disposal are rarely considered during the design and production of apparel products. Apparel companies are becoming more cognizant of their environmental impact and are implementing sustainability programs to counteract these issues. The field of sustainable supply chain management is a relatively new concept and companies face the challenges of choosing sustainability initiatives, measuring the success of those initiatives, and assessing their overall progress toward sustainability. This thesis addresses these three challenges. First, it compiles a comprehensive set of nearly 300 sustainability initiatives used by eight apparel companies. Second, it documents the initiatives' associated metrics, which were found to exist for only 30 percent of the initiatives. Third, it provides a system for measuring overall corporate sustainability through an initiative classification scheme. It was determined that three of the eight companies studied embody the highest level of corporate sustainability. The industry has made progress toward becoming more sustainable, but cannot be truly sustainable until systemic changes are made to the design, production, use, and disposal stages of the apparel product life cycle. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-73). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60831 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60830 Biofuel supply chain challenges and analysis Chung, Sooduck; Farrey, Michael Liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel are traditionally derived from petroleum. Since petroleum has the potential to be exhausted, there is interest in large scale production of fuels from renewable sources. Currently, ethanol and bio diesel are liquid fuels that are mainly derived from field crops. This paper examines the supply chain challenges and issues that exist for bringing biofuel production up to scale. One major challenge that exists is how to transport the feedstock from a farm to a refinery in the most cost efficient manner. One way to improve transportation efficiency of feedstock is to increase the energy density of the feedstock. However, increasing the density of a feedstock comes with a cost. We use switchgrass as a case study and examine the tradeoff between higher transportation costs in transporting a less energy dense feedstock to processing a feedstock to increase its energy density. We show that creating ethanol from switchgrass in the United States is not competitive in price to gasoline without government subsidies, but as the supply chain matures, efficiencies gained will narrow the gap. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-86). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60830 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60829 Aftermarket vehicle hybridization : designing a supply network for a startup company Causton, Marcus S; Wu, Jianmin Our thesis introduces a supply chain framework catered for startup companies. Startup companies face unique circumstances such as constraints on financial and human resources, and greater uncertainty in demand. From our work with XL Hybrids, a startup company that hybridizes aftermarket vehicles, as well as interviews and literature review, we have attempted to distill supply chain strategies that can be applied to startup companies. To plan XL Hybrids' supply chain, we developed models for the following aspects of their supply chain: production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory policy, and component distribution. By running different demand and pricing scenarios, we gained an understanding of the impact of these variables on the four aspects of XL Hybrid's supply chain. Based on the scenario analysis and supply chain framework that we developed, we recommend that XL Hybrids be conservative with capacity expansion while strategically sourcing key components after considering volume discounts and different distribution methods. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010.; Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-88). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60829 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59509 Costs of multiplicity in public health supply chains in Burundi Shah, Jeet N. (Jeet Nipoon); Thomas, Trevor N As the public health system in Burundi transitions from a mode of emergency humanitarian response to a sustainable operation, there is a significant opportunity to reduce costs by eliminating the duplication of functions served by multiple parties. Numerous multi-lateral agencies and NGOs play a significant role in the public health supply chain. Additionally, Burundi has several vertical programs focused on specific communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which have parallel distribution systems. This thesis assesses the costs of multiplicity in the public health supply chain in Burundi, focusing on identifying the factors contributing to multiplicity and evaluating their cost impacts. We specifically analyze the transportation and inventory costs under four different distribution scenarios in the context of a proposed health sector structural reform while using the current system as a baseline. The analysis also discusses several other relevant factors that affect the costs of multiplicity. The research suggests that the Ministry of Health in Burundi can reduce costs, and improve availability of drugs by shifting from a pickup mode to a delivery mode of distribution, sharing assets between the central procurement agency and vertical programs, and improving the cash flow in the system. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009 [first author]; and, (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009 [second author].; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59509 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55339 Humanitarian aid in less secure regions : an analysis of World Food Programme operations in the Somali region of Ethiopia Chander, Vidya; Shear, Lauren The World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations food agency, has recently acquired the difficult task of transporting aid into the Somali region of Ethiopia. The political instability, rebel activity, ethnic tensions, and poor infrastructure in the area endanger and delay the flow of commodities through the WFP's supply chain. In this thesis, we explore and analyze the role that these threats play in the WFP's aid distribution in the Somali region. Specifically, we measure the impact of insecurity in the WFP's distribution system, study the current methods that the WFP employs to mitigate risks, and investigate possible precautionary technologies to improve security in this resource constrained environment. Our research suggests that while many tools can enhance security, the organizational measures aiming to increase responsibility and trust between all involved supply chain stakeholders ultimately prove to have a stronger impact on the overall safety of aid-distribution. Finally, though our research has focused mainly on the WFP, we believe that all similarly situated humanitarian organizations will find our analysis applicable. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; "June 2009."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-82). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55339 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55338 Inventory positioning for a multi-echelon distribution network Avari, Deepak; Dayal, Naman This thesis presents a framework for deciding which products to centralize in a regional distribution center and which products to store decentralized close to the customer sites, for each facility in a multi-echelon distribution network. Our research specifically focuses on developing an optimization model to determine the inventory positioning strategy that minimizes total costs. The model considers both inbound and outbound transportation costs along with inventory holding costs at all facilities in the network. The total cost and responsiveness of the optimal solution are compared with the baseline network, in which inventory is completely decentralized. Our analysis is performed using several products that have diverse characteristics, in terms of demand patterns, lead-times, product costs, service-level requirements, transportation modes, and supplier locations. A sensitivity analysis is performed to study how a variance in these parameters affects the optimal solution. The research suggests that for high volume commodity items the benefits of centralization are highly dependent upon the degree of lane consolidation. However, for low volume specialty items, centralization can provide immediate benefits with no change to the existing transportation network. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 60). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55338 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55259 Replenishment prioritization of highly perishable goods : a case study on nuclear medicine Yea, Young-bai Michael; Zou, Hui Serving customers in a nuclear medicine supply chain requires frequent and responsive replenishments. Nuclear medicine is a special category of perishable goods that is subject to rapid, but predictable radioactive decay. This study examines the viability of differentiating service through segmenting customers in Tyco Healthcare's (THC's) nuclear medicine supply chain. More specifically, the network of pharmacies that THC serves is divided into two groups-THC-affiliate pharmacies and independent pharmacies-and their demand characteristics are examined. This study rejects the hypothesis that THC should differentiate service by pharmacy affiliation after comparing the demand characteristics of the THC and independent pharmacies. Alternatively, the study tests the hypothesis that product segmentation is a viable option by comparing the demand characteristics of THC's products. This study does not reject the alternative hypothesis and presents proposed policy for coordinated replenishment. To facilitate the comparative analyses, THC's nuclear medicine supply chain is first described. Finally, recommendations on how to improve supply chain performance follow the hypothesis testing. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 74). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55259 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53547 Measuring the value of a responsive supply network Garza Ramírez, Jaime; Suryanarayanan, Subramanian Mambakkam LargeCo, a large multinational consumer goods manufacturing and distribution company, has been pursuing initiatives to improve the responsiveness of its supply network. The impact of these initiatives on the supply network is measured through a few Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). LargeCo has invested in a responsive supply chain so that it can respond swiftly to unpredictable market demand and minimize lost sales. Reduction in lost sales leads to growth in sales. LargeCo is interested in finding out if its responsive supply chain is contributing to sales growth. In particular, LargeCo would like to determine whether improvement in KPIs, driven by improvement in the responsiveness of the supply chain, has a relationship with improvement in sales. LargeCo uses a measure of sales known as Sales Net of Effects (SNE) which measures sales net of the effects of discounts, marketing and promotions. Establishing a relationship between KPIs and sales will help LargeCo measure the value of responsiveness in its supply network. This research project develops an analytical framework using an econometric model to determine if relationships exist between the KPIs and sales and a causal model to explain the relationships. The econometric model shows that relationships exist between two of the KPIs - Days of Inventory and Supply Chain Cycle Time, and sales. The causal model explains how these KPIs and sales are linked. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53547 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53546 Forecasting consumer products using prediction markets Trepte, Kai; Narayanaswamy, Rajaram Prediction Markets hold the promise of improving the forecasting process. Research has shown that Prediction Markets can develop more accurate forecasts than polls or experts. Our research concentrated on analyzing Prediction Markets for business decision-making. We configured a Prediction Market to gather primary data, sent out surveys to gauge participant views and conducted in-depth interviews to explain trader behavior. Our research was conducted with 169 employees from General Mills who participated in Prediction Markets that lasted from two to ten weeks. Our research indicates that short term forecasting Prediction Markets are no more accurate than conventional forecasting methods. It also presents and addresses three interesting contradictions. First, the Sales Organization won the majority of the Prediction Markets, yet the overall performance of Sales as a group was worse than that of other groups. Second, Prediction Markets were able to gain access to more information than General Mills' current process, yet the impact on forecast accuracy was not significant. Third, with a MAPE of 11% for promotional Prediction Markets, it would seem that promotional demand was well understood up-front, yet when we dissected the promotional forecasts we discovered that participants changed their minds over time degrading overall forecast accuracy. We believe that we have extended the current body of work on Prediction Markets in ways that will increase the utilization in business environments. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-106). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53546 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53545 Managing multi-tiered suppliers in the high-tech industry Frantz, Charles E. (Charles Evan); Lee, Jimin This thesis presents a roadmap for companies to follow as they manage multi-tiered suppliers in the high-tech industry. Our research covered a host of sources including interviews and publications from various companies, consulting companies, software companies, the computer industry, trade associations, and analyst firms among others. While our review found that many companies begin supplier relationship management after sourcing events, we show that managing suppliers should start as companies form their competitive strategy. Our five step roadmap provides a deliberate approach for companies as they build the foundation for effective and successful multi-tiered supplier relationship management. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-135). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53545 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53544 Use of transportation relays to improve private fleet management Tsu, John; Agarwal, Mayank We explore the use of transportation relays, a somewhat unconventional transportation operations concept, in terms of improving private fleet management. A transportation relay is a shipment that is divided into two legs. With transportation relays, there is more ways to route freight with a private fleet. We use a linear program to find private fleet tours with and without relays for a large retailer. We find that relays increase private fleet use by 17% and reduce total transportation cost by 6%. Inbound relays increase the utilization of private fleet on the inbound lanes while outbound relays shift the private fleet capacity between neighboring DCs. Together, inbound and outbound relays better utilize existing private fleet resources and can be used to justify an investment in a larger private fleet through the purchase of addition tractors and trailers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 53). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53544 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53543 Analysis of global channel costs for the pharmaceutical industry Rimling, Eric C. (Eric Christopher); Seoh, Wontae Thomas The pharmaceutical industry creates products which often have more than one supply chain channel, defined as a route through the supply chain network from sourcing to the end market. Each channel's specific cost characteristics are important to the pharmaceutical industry's ability to maintain positive profit margins while meeting high customer service requirements. Determining the optimal supply chain channel involves the analysis of fuel costs, logistics, taxes, wage differences, and many more. Additionally, variables such as time and risk significantly impact the total cost of a supply chain channel, but are extremely difficult to quantify. In this research, we identify the relevant channel costs and variables for the supply chain of a large pharmaceutical corporation. After identification, our study categorizes each cost based on level of measurability and causes of variability to develop a framework identifying the most relevant costs by four product types. We then analyze market forces that affect costs over a product's lifecycle. Finally, we develop an operational model for using the framework to compare costs across multiple supply chain channels and time horizons. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53543 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53542 The impact of fuel price volatility on transportation mode choice Kim, Eun Hie; Nsiah-Gyimah, Michael In recent years, the price of oil has driven large fluctuations in the price of diesel fuel, which is an important cost component in freight logistics. This thesis explores the impact of fuel price volatility on supply chains by examining the sensitivity of decisions under various scenarios. Specifically, we analyze the transportation mode choice decision between truckload and intermodal (truck combined with rail) transportation using a model to calculate the total relevant cost, consisting of transportation cost and inventory holding cost. We use input from the North American operations for a global retail company regarding annual demand, product characteristics, load size, lead time, transportation rates, fuel surcharges, inventory policies and holding cost to perform sensitivity analysis of the mode choice decision to fuel price and the value density of the product. For several origin-destination pairs we identify the diesel price at which intermodal offers lower total cost than truckload as well as the magnitude of savings that can be achieved by switching modes. We then generalize the insights from this case by providing an equation to calculate the fuel price for this mode choice tradeoff. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53542 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53541 Using supply chain management techniques to make wind plant and energy storage operation more profitable Saran, Prashant; Siegert, Clayton W Our research demonstrates that supply chain management techniques can improve the incremental gross profits of wind plant and storage operations by up to five times. Using Monte-Carlo simulation we create and test scenarios that achieve incremental operating profits of up to 15 percent of base case revenue, and show pre-tax profit. We show that energy storage-specifically in the form of utility-scale batteries - can become economically-viable today when using supply chain management strategies under certain scenarios. To achieve these results we have built a simulation model with three data inputs. First, we synthesized the output of a 120 MW wind plant in Maine for both summer and winter seasons. Second, we simulated New England ISO market pricing data for both the Day-Ahead and Real-Time markets in summer and winter seasons using Monte Carlo simulations. Third, using actual data from two existing battery companies, we incorporated the technical and cost specifications for two energy storage facilities. All of these data inputs feature adjustable parameters so we can test various plant configurations, market volatilities and storage capabilities, among other inputs. Using our model, we then employed supply chain management network design strategies and daily operating policies to test profitability improvements on our wind plant-plus-storage operation. For example, we ran simulations for scenarios where our storage facility is either located in Maine next to our wind plant, or located in another state.; (cont.) Also, since storage can make wind generation a predictable capacity resource, we ran simulations to test results in both the Day-Ahead and Real-Time markets. In addition we developed four (4) inventory management policies with dynamic input (charge) and output (discharge) strategies for our storage units. For each policy, we had to conceptualize the policy - while considering planning horizon, lead time, holding costs, shortage costs, market pricing and storage capabilities - and then build functionality in our model to execute those strategies in dynamic pricing and wind plant output environments. The outcomes of our simulation model include incremental gross profit, operating profit and pre-tax profit for each of 54 scenarios, as well as 11 management insights for wind plant and storage operators, storage technology manufacturers and New England ISO leadership. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-164). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53541 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53540 Analysis of an international distribution hub for fast moving consumer goods Ortiz Duran, Sebastian; Hawks, Richard The focus of this research is creating a framework to accurately assess the benefits of hub capability in an international distribution network for fast moving consumer packaged goods. The traditional inventory centralization dilemma requires an evaluation of whether the reduction in holding costs outweighs the increases in transportation and handling costs. We developed a mixed integer programming model to determine the benefits of adding hub capability to Consumer Co.'s Northwest Latin American import supply chain. Consumer Co.'s NWLA division imports products from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico to eleven countries within Central and South America, each operating a distribution center. By adding hub capability in the Colon Free Trade Zone, our model determined that the lowest cost could be achieved using a "Hybrid" solution, where some channels flowed through the hub and others were shipped direct. This network design would result in a 4.4% reduction in annual relevant costs. A counter-intuitive revelation was the fact that transportation costs could actually decrease. Similar to airlines, carriers can sometimes offer lower rates for indirect shipments passing through a high volume transit point instead of shipping the product directly through a less traveled route. Hub capability in the Colon Free Trade Zone also provides Consumer Co. with the flexibility to tailor their supply chain to potential changes in the fluctuating Latin American environment. Increasing customer expectations can lead to scenarios with higher safety stocks, for which centralization can provide the highest benefits. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 52). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53540 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53539 Structuring strategic decisions through the analytic hierarchy process : a case study in the selection of warehouse location for WFP in Ethiopia Malaver, Gina; Regnier, Colin Humanitarian logistic organizations struggle to make strategic and tactical decisions due to their lack of resources, the unpredictability of humanitarian events and the lack of readily available information; the existing tools that assist optimal decision making require large amounts of precise information. As a consequence of all these challenges, most of the work in humanitarian logistics concentrates on the operational level that can only offer short term benefits. Alternatively, optimal strategic decisions maximize the resources of humanitarian organizations making them more flexible and effective in the long term; this directly impacts the ability to help the millions of people in need. This thesis presents a model that assists the largest humanitarian organization in the world, The World Food Programme, to make optimal strategic decisions. The model uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process, a multiple attribute decision tool that provides structure to decisions where there is limited availability of quantitative information. This methodology uses a framework that determines and prioritizes multiple criteria by using qualitative data and it scores each alternative based on these criteria. The optimal alternative will be the one that has the highest weighted score. This model solves the challenges that The World Food Programme, as any other humanitarian organization face when making complex strategic decisions. The model, not only works with easily acquired information but, it is also flexible in order to consider the ever-changing dynamics in the humanitarian field.; (cont.) The application of this model focuses on the optimization of warehouse locations for the World Food Programme in the Somali region of Ethiopia. However, this model can easily be scaled in order to be used in any other decision making process in the humanitarian field. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-99). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53539 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53054 Analyzing the level of service and cost trade-offs in cold chain transportation Liu, Saiqi This thesis discusses the tradeoff between transportation cost and the level of service in cold chain transportation. Its purpose is to find the relationship between transportation cost and the level of service in cold chain transportation. Regression models are built to quantify the additional cost of superior quality cold chain for both Chiquita and its carriers, and analyze the relationship between such cost and customer service level. In order to guarantee the freshness of salads and fruits, cold chain transportation has to meet strict quality standards and additional costs occur due to efforts required to maintain and monitor the transportation performance. The thesis takes quantitative approach to demonstrate the relationships among the quality standards required, the cost associated, and the customer service level reached. The temperature quality standards are mainly measured by monitoring data from RFID monitor Sensitech. The cost data are collected from Chiquita's historical carrier rates. The customer service level is measured in two dimensions, on time drop-off, and on time pick-up. The thesis also takes qualitative approach by a survey on carriers' additional cost of offering superior cold chain transportation among Chiquita's carriers. No correlation is found between transportation cost and the level of service in cold chain transportation. Therefore carriers with best cold chain management don't necessarily charge the highest. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 66). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53054 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53053 An analysis of long-term agreements with suppliers in Lockheed Martin's commercial satellite systems division Singh, Hem Lockheed Martin designs and builds commercial satellites to customers' specifications. The customers, such as telecommunications companies and weather forecasters, are very price sensitive and, usually, award contracts to the lowest priced bids. Lockheed manufactures satellites using a combination of in-house manufacturing, purchasing, and subcontracting (for subcontract parts). The subcontract parts constitute a majority of a satellite's costs. Lockheed uses contracts and other supply management techniques to stay competitive and to keep satellite, specifically subcontract part, costs under control. Some of the subcontract part contracts are managed under subcontract agreements called long-term agreements (LTA). A small supplier pool, long turnover (for bringing these suppliers onboard), regulatory requirements, and capital-intensive nature of the industry are important considerations in evaluating these LTAs. The LTAs embody the risks inherent in project supply chains, specifically, price, currency, and supply risks. In such events, LTAs can become a liability and can lead to monetary losses or discord with suppliers. This thesis provides an overview of the satellite supply chain, analyzes supplier relations to better understand the business dynamics, and analyzes LTAs to better control the satellite input costs. Key words: commercial satellite, contractor, long-term agreement, subcontract, Lockheed, subcontractor, LTA, satellite supply chain, contracts. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-69). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53053 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53052 Floating offshore wind farms : demand planning & logistical challenges of electricity generation Nnadili, Christopher Dozie, 1978- Floating offshore wind farms are likely to become the next paradigm in electricity generation from wind energy mainly because of the near constant high wind speeds in an offshore environment as opposed to the erratic wind speeds in their onshore counterparts. By using floaters adapted from oilrigs, floating offshore wind farms can be operated with larger wind turbines for increased power generation. In the United States, floating offshore wind farms located off the coast of New England would be near large load centers and accessible to transmission load lines with low capacity utilization. Apart from the technological challenges of building floating offshore wind farms stemming from the developmental stage of the floater technology, there are three major logistical challenges prospective operators would likely encounter in harvesting electricity. The first challenge is to understand the interaction between distances from shore to locate a wind farm given increasing wind speeds. The second challenge is to understand the marginal impact of distance from shore on revenue generated from electricity sales from a floating offshore wind farm. And finally the third challenge is to determine inventory policy for wind turbine components in operating a floating offshore wind farm given its more complex operation and maintenance schedule. To address these challenges, this study examines a hypothetical 100 units of 5MW wind turbines to understand the economics of locating a floating offshore wind farm.; (cont.) It is important to know the intersection between the increase in revenue generated with distance from shore and increase in operation & maintenance costs of a floating offshore wind farm. Because there is currently no floating offshore wind farm at the time of this writing, estimated failure rate data was used to study demand patterns for offshore wind turbine components. Three of maintenance strategies were examined. The results obtained from this work will serve as a blue print for prospective operators of floating offshore wind farms in logistics planning and inventory management of wind turbine components for electricity generation. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 46). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53052 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53051 Including costs of supply chain risk in strategic sourcing decisions Jain, Avani Cost evaluations do not always include the costs associated with risks when organizations make strategic sourcing decisions. This research was conducted to establish and quantify the impact of risks and risk-related costs on sourcing decisions for the automotive industry. The focus is on comparing distant, global suppliers entailing long supply chains with domestic, US-based suppliers. The risk factors effecting supplier selection were classified into eight categories. A model was developed using Monte Carlo simulation for scenario generation and Value-at-Risk methodology from finance theory for developing the risk-cost relationship. The model was tested using multiple scenarios which were generated by varying the risk profiles of suppliers. The results indicate that there is distinct and quantifiable relationship between supplier-related risk and total costs of sourcing. Furthermore, under high risk conditions, distant, global suppliers with relatively lower contract costs can exceed cost budgets as well as the cost of domestic sourcing. The model developed through this research can be used to compare two or more suppliers and map the total cost variation for suppliers under particular risk scenarios. Thus, the model can be used for strategically selecting low-cost and long-term suppliers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-62). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53051 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53050 Reducing transportation costs and inventory shrinkage in the Washington State tree fruit industry Foreman, James Sterling Perishability and stock-outs are two sources of inventory inefficiency in the Washington State tree fruit industry. This thesis measures the size of these inefficiencies in terms of dollars per box, and describes five solutions, four qualitative and one quantitative, that seek to address them. To establish the magnitude of the inefficiencies, I regress various fruit characteristics on a set of sales data, thereby ascertaining the relationship between a fruit's price and its age. I find that the industry loses 5% to 12% of potential revenue due to perishability and propose four qualitative policies designed to reduce these losses. Next, I develop an operational management tool in the form of a mixed-integer optimization model which can be used to make optimal sourcing decisions during stock-out events. I find that the potential savings from improved sourcing decisions are between $0.01 and 0.02 per box. These results confirm that the costs and foregone revenue associated with inventory management are significant and merit the tree fruit industry's attention. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-95). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53050 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53049 Multi-echelon multi-product inventory strategy in a steel company Iocco, Juan D. (Juan Domingo) This thesis examines a distribution multi-echelon production-inventory system subject to stochastic demand in the steel industry. The sponsor company, Ternium (a South American steel producer), needs to provide short service times under low inventory costs. The goal of this thesis is to generate a model and conclusions to determine where and how much inventory to hold to satisfy a required service level. Risk pooling is an important consideration for this problem; once a steel product advances in the production process, it has less possibilities of use for different customers. Since distribution stochastic multi-echelon inventory systems have no known optimal formulated solution, algorithms and simulation will be used determine a strategy. The analysis uses simulation as the main method to solve the problem. A distribution multi-echelon model is developed. Different cost scenarios are defined and run. Next, the best set of solutions, defined as the service level-holding cost efficient frontier, is found. To increase the understanding of the problems and provide a better interpretation of the results, we test the sensitivity of the solution and the impact of the input parameters. Later, we explore different ways of solving the problem using alternative modeling methods to determine the base-stock levels. Finally, these solutions are tested with simulation and compared with the best results. Through the analysis, we find that simulation is a powerful tool for finding the best inventory strategy, but the results are very sensitive to cost parameters.; (cont.) Modeling allows important saving costs if we compare the best solutions found with the simplest policy used by the company (allocating all safety stock to the echelon closest to the customer). Finally, we demonstrate that some of the alternative modeling methods used to allocate inventory perform well, but simulation is an important complement to test and fine-tune these models. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53049 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53048 Predictive metrics for supply chains Haydamous, Linda (Linda A.) The economic crisis that the world has been experiencing since 2008 has led several organizations to announce record losses and bankruptcies. But couldn't the chief factors have been predicted, at least to some extent? What if the critical success factors of a company are predicted and evaluated, wouldn't that eliminate, or at least cushion, such misfortunes? In this thesis I provide a framework for developing predictive metrics for supply chains. The goal of these metrics is to provide a key set of indicators, aligned with the business strategy, that provide early warnings of problems or early signals of successful project completion. They allow organizations to analyze risks and provide supply chain managers with a forward-looking approach to align their strategy with performance outcomes. My target audience is the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry but the results could be expanded across industries. There is no one-size-fits-all set of predictive metrics. Finding the optimal set depends on the project focus and the supplier type. In this thesis I measure performance in the four areas of cost, schedule, quality and technical. I use system dynamics models to develop my framework and employ three A&D programs as case-study subjects to illustrate the implementation of the framework. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53048 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51650 Measuring performance of transportation carriers Cheng, Weixia ChemiCo, a specialty chemical manufacturer for the auto and architectural market is seeking new business opportunities in the Chinese architectural market. Although ChemiCo entered the Chinese automotive market in 2006 with its newly built plant in China, it is still trying to understand the dynamics created by the fierce competition from many small local players in the Chinese market. The objective of this research is to help ChemiCo understand the complex Chinese transportation market specifically and provide guidance in carrier selection. The proposed approach will offer ChemiCo an objective means to procure transportation services for the architectural market and deliver products to customers across China from its existing facilities (plants and warehouses). We employ qualitative research methods to analyze the current Chinese transportation market. Based on this assessment, we evaluate various transportation options available to ChemiCo, keeping in mind their current and future level of supply complexities. We also investigate ChemiCo's existing carriers in the Chinese trucking market. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to evaluate the key measurements of carrier performances for various customer segments and make recommendations. The thesis proposes a comprehensive set of performance measurement criteria to select transportation carriers and presents a carrier selection process for ChemiCo. This process is designed to meet ChemiCo's specific decision goals and allows it to assess and compare the performance of various carriers in a dynamic fashion. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-57). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51650 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51643 Supply chain management in the cement industry Agudelo, Isabel Traditionally supply chain management has played an operational role within cement and mineral extraction commodity companies. Recently, cost reduction projects have brought supply chain management into the limelight. In order to clarify the reasons of the evolution of supply chain management and to demonstrate the value of efficient supply chain management within the cement industry, an analysis of the cement supply chain has been carried out using Michael Porter's five forces. In addition, a comparative analysis of the supply chain strategy of the four largest cement companies has been presented, according to Larry Lapide's excellent supply chain framework. Also, a characterization of the current cement supply chain has been done, using the Supply Chain Council's SCOR model processes; plan, source, make, deliver and return. Five authors' various frameworks of supply chain design have been used to gain insight into the general characteristics of the cement supply chain and propose a definitive supply chain strategy. Finally, three case studies from mineral extraction commodity companies have been presented to demonstrate the potential of supply chain management. The study concludes that supply chain management has tremendous potential to add value as a strategic function for companies in these industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-89). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51643 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51642 A classification of carbon footprint methods used by companies Andrews, Suzanne L. D. (Suzanne Lois Denise) The percent increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration in the atmosphere can be harmful to the environment. There is no single preferred method for measuring GHG output. How can a company classify and choose an appropriate method? This thesis offers a classification of current methods used by companies to measure their GHG output. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-54). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51642 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51641 Strategies for cost reduction in procuring trucking services Castro Izaguirre, Carlo Gustavo This thesis analyzed truckload shipment transactions from 2006 to 2008 in order to compare planned procurement activity to actual procurement activity. The research specifically focused on three costs: Primary, Actual and Market. Primary cost is the cost agreed to pay to the primary carrier and is usually contractually fixed in advance. The actual cost is the cost paid to the carrier that hauls the load and the market cost is the average cost for the lane that a shipper should pay. This market cost is a benchmarking cost available to the shippers. The comparison of planned and actual is important because it helps to develop a strategy that decreases transportation costs by identifying overpaid lanes and carriers and it helps to monitor and make corrective decisions. The research suggests that the matching of planning and execution occurred in less than 10% of the lanes and there are under and overpaid lanes. The execution rendered more than 50% of overpaid lanes and the planning showed a commitment to overpay in 45% or more of lanes. Finally this research proposes ideas to improve the truckload procurement strategy because shippers cannot afford to "plan to waste". Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 48). Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51641 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45255 Product & customer profiling for Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Chen, Liang, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology This thesis is to analyze the suitability of different products, suppliers and customers for Direct Store Delivery (DSD) model with respect to the qualitative profile and the quantitative benefits. During the research, interviews with retailers, suppliers and industrial experts provide the basis and insight for the qualitative analysis of factors that make certain products, suppliers and customers best suitable for a DSD model. In order to quantify the benefits that DSD can bring to the entire supply chain, a generic model of the DSD system is built. Based on the quantitative analysis, the stock-out at store shelf is simulated in order to understand the effects of DSD operations to the minimization of stock-out costs at the store shelf, a major benefit that DSD is assumed to generate. With the conceptual framework and the quantitative model, this thesis is aimed at providing supply chain managers a comprehensive perspective to adopt DSD for their products and customers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45255 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45252 The impact of lead time on truckload transportation rates Caldwell, Erik R. (Erik Russell); Fisher, Bryan C The objective of this thesis was to analyze truckload shipment transactions in order to determine if rates are impacted by tender lead time, which is the amount of time between when a carrier is offered a load to when the load needs to be picked up. The research specifically focused on how tender rejections by carriers are the ultimate driver of transportation cost variances since most rates are contractually fixed in advance. The data revealed a strong correlation between tender rejections and increased costs. Many factors affect transportation costs. The transportation model in the paper included three key baseline factors: distance, origin, and destination of the load. The model also included tender and pick up day of week activity, economies of scale, carrier size, and tender lead time to quantify how the factors influence the cost of a load. The research suggests that even though the baseline factors dominate the cost of most loads, shippers can create savings by modifying business policy with regard to tender lead time and other factors included in the model. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-81). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45252 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45251 Inventory optimization in a retail multi-echelon environment Arkaresvimun, Rintiya The objective of the study is to find an optimal inventory distribution in a retail three-echelon environment, consisting of a supplier, a DC, and stores. An inventory model is built by replicating the echelons' periodic, order-up-to-level policies with all echelons' transactions integrated. Network carrying cost is set as an objective function, while the store target service level and the store's minimum order-up-to-levels are set as constraints. A heuristic approach, that combines the optimization and simulation methods, is used to find the optimal inventory distribution. The results show that the optimal network carrying cost can be achieved by having low inventory and low service level at the DC. In addition, the impact of the echelons' deviations from the optimal policies as well as the impact of the upstream echelon's service disruptions on the other echelons confirms the interrelation between the echelons in the network. The analyses also illustrate that high target service level can be accomplished by keeping high inventory at the stores and the DC. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 66). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45251 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45250 Transport mode and network architecture : carbon footprint as a new decision metric Andrieu, Nelly; Weiss, Lee This thesis examines the tradeoffs between carbon footprint, cost, time and risk across three case studies of United States' perishable or consumer packaged goods firms and their transportation partners. Building upon previous research, and utilizing an Institute of Management and Administration (IOMA) and MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) survey of supply chain professionals, the goal of this thesis is to better understand the decision process and motivations of our case study companies with regard to carbon footprint and implications for transport mode and network architecture, and the tradeoffs involved in making these decisions. We examine: (1) An expedited refrigerated rail service providing coast-to-coast shipment of produce for a major retailer, in lieu of its prior trucking arrangement; (2) A dairy producer which with the help of its trucking partner switched from less-than-truckload (LTL) to full truckload (FTL) and currently explore the possibility to re-organize its distribution network; and (3) A bottled water firm which created an additional container shipping route to reduce the volume of water it ships via truck. Comparisons and contrasts are made between case study firms. Findings from these case studies are used to make forward-looking recommendations for companies interested in altering transport mode and/or network architecture as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of their operations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-133). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45250 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45249 Leveraging risk management in the sales and operations planning process Kenny, Timothy; Daniels, Yanika (Yanika S.) (cont.) Lastly, we visited SemiCo, a leading global supplier of high performance semiconductor products, to gain first-hand insight into the S&OP process of a large multinational company and complete a brief case study about how risk management is currently being utilized within this company's S&OP process. Finally, we synthesized these four sources of information in order to develop a common framework and recommendations that companies can use for understanding the best practices for incorporating risk management into the S&OP process.; The objective of this thesis project is to analyze how companies can utilize risk management techniques in their sales and operations planning process (S&OP). S&OP is a strategy used to integrate planning and processes across functional groups within a company, such as sales, operations, and finance. A large body of academic and industry literature already exits, proving that S&OP can integrate people, processes, and technology leading to improved operational performance for a business. However, little research has been done in the area of applying risk management techniques to the S&OP process. When companies use S&OP in order to align their demand, supply, capacity, and production, based on various factors such as history, pricing, promotions, competition, and technology, they rarely factor in uncertainty and risk into the S&OP process. Furthermore, for those companies that do implement risk management in the S&OP process, there is no consensus in the business community about how to do this accurately and effectively. Our basic approach to understanding risk management and its place in the S&OP process will be four-fold. First, we conducted a literature review in order to gain basic S&OP process understanding and current risk management strategies. Next, we conducted thirteen hour-long phone interviews with practitioners and thought leaders in the field of sales and operations planning in order to gain insight into how companies currently discuss, assess, and act upon uncertainty within the S&OP process. Third, we conducted an online survey of various companies and consultants working in the field of S&OP to see how they currently discuss and incorporate uncertainty into their S&OP work. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45249 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45248 100% container scanning : security policy implications for global supply chains Bennett, Allison C. (Allison Christine); Chin, Yi Zhuan On August 3, 2007, President George Bush signed into law HR1 the "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007." The 9/11 Act requires 100% scanning of US-bound containers at foreign seaports by 2012 through the use of non-intrusive (NII) and radiation detection equipment. Maritime stakeholders and the government community have actively debated the feasibility of this plan, citing economic impacts, barriers to global trade and insufficient technology and physical space. This thesis focuses on importer concerns relating to potential shipment delays, financial burdens, sourcing issues and contingency planning concerns in global supply chain operations. Using port statistics, field study data as well as industry insights, frameworks are developed to identify major stakeholder issues and quantify the financial costs and delay risks bourn across the entire supply chain. Cost and delay analyses are based on 2 prototypical ports - a small/low-volume export port and a large/high-volume export port. Cost analysis is performed for a consolidated (port authority) level installation and a segmented (terminal operator) level installation to calculate a per-box scanning fee. Queuing models and Monte-Carlo simulations are also developed to quantify truck congestion due to primary scanning and the risk of containers missing vessels due to secondary inspections. Results of the cost analysis indicate that scanning configurations, particularly related to NII, greatly affect the-per box scanning cost. It is not economically feasible to scan only US-bound containers at half of the 600 ports with direct connections to the US. Analysis of truck congestion suggests that the ramp metering effect of the entry gate can help to abate congestion at the scanning area.; (cont.) Analysis on secondary inspection delays revealed that under a set of assumptions that reflect current operations, the risk of containers missing sailings could potentially increase to 1.5%, which may in turn require a 0.5% to 5% increase in safety stock. Our study shows that cost and delay implications of 100% export US-bound container scanning may be less severe than industry anticipated. Supply chain disruptions due to scanning is best mitigated through earlier container dispatch, increased safety stock or increased scanning infrastructure and personnel at ports. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-169). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45248 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45247 Customer service driven supply chain segmentation Worawattananon, Prakit The objective of this thesis is to develop a supply chain segmentation model for Company X, which is in the chemical and construction materials industry. The company sells products in an expanding Southeast Asia market. At the same time, it innovates and launches new products to these markets. A major issue for the company to consider is services offered to its customers. The company has to address customer needs, analyze them, and design the products and services that will fulfill those selective demands. This thesis leverages this concern for the company by developing a model to segment the company's supply chain based upon customer services. Company Y, a subsidiary company of Company X, is selected to be a case study for the model developed in this thesis. Quantitatively, the thesis examines collected data such as customer including portions of revenue and margin from each customer; and a customer's profile potential from the size of the firm. Qualitatively, the data and information collected from interviewing relevant people, such as sales and marketing personnel, is used to characterize the company's future customer prospects. Furthermore, some selected current practices in the industry will be reviewed and benchmarked for formulating the model. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45247 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45246 Determination of drivers of stock-out performance of retail stores using data mining techniques Usman, Khalid, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This research applies data mining techniques to give a picture of the interaction of performance variables such as between stock-outs and store attributes, and stock-outs and other variables including store sales, income and demographic data, as well as various aspects of inventory management data. This research uses three data mining techniques: multiple ordinary-least-squares (OLS) regression, logistic regression and data clustering. The first part of the research evaluates how the effect of stock-outs at the distribution center (DC) level impacts the downstream sales at the store-level. Using multiple regression techniques, it was observed that stock-outs at the distribution center level have a detrimental impact on the sales at the retail store level. The second part of the project focuses on understanding the relationships of store stock-out performance to various drivers. The variables that were determined to be drivers of store performance include income level of the area, demographic profile, years the store has been in operation, day of the week delivery from distribution center, distance of store from the distribution center and average inventory-on-hand. Using data clustering techniques, worse performing and good performing clusters of stores were identified. The two worse performing clusters were 'Low-Income, Newer' stores and 'Newer, Further from DC' stores. The three good performing clusters were 'High-Income, High-Inventory' stores, 'Closer to DC, Older' Stores and 'High-Income, Smaller' stores. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-67).; Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008. Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45246 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45245 Strategies for high volume supply chains in India Palathinkal, Don J There are a lot of growth opportunities for multinational companies in emerging markets. These markets have a large consumer base but the market conditions in these regions are novel to these multinational companies. Various strategies evaluating government regulations, sales, marketing and supply chain have to be analyzed, isolated and implemented so that companies can quickly adapt to new market conditions. The purpose of this thesis is to review successful supply chain strategies adopted by multinationals catering to a large number of consumers in India. Based on the review, the thesis recommends insights for developing supply chains in emerging markets. To accomplish this, various strategies and literature on supplier, manufacturer and distributor partnerships were evaluated, compared and contrasted. Interviews with key management personnel across the supplier-manufacturer horizon were also conducted to gain insider perspective and information pertaining to supply chain issues. Current literature and public documents available have shown that successful supply chain strategies involved unique partnerships between local competitors and entering multinationals and also partnerships between local governments and direct source. Examples that stand out are the partnerships between PepsiCo and farmers in the state of Punjab, India or those of Project Shakti between women entrepreneurs from rural India and Hindustan Lever. This thesis recommends that such partnerships may hold the key to entering new markets in order to merge together different professional cultures without the risk of losing substantial investments in infrastructure. In addition, it also recommends the advantages of vertical integration for emerging markets like India. In addition, the findings on fragmentation within the echelons of supply chains propose opportunities for understanding developmental barriers. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-89). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45245 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45244 The impact of assured supply inventory policies Stanton, Daniel Jonathon A case study is presented of a successful quick serve fast food restaurant chain that uses inventory throughout the supply chain as a buffer against uncertainty in supply and demand. This is a common operational strategy in many industries, but it limits options for the supply chain to become more agile, adaptable, and aligned to the dynamic needs of the enterprise. Trade-offs between transportation and holding costs are illustrated. The drawbacks of assuring supply by maintaining inventory at the distribution center level are discussed. Supply chain alternatives are presented including lateral transfers, forward warehouses, alternative modes of transportation, and multiple suppliers. An analytical approach is presented which provides a total relevant supply chain cost at the distribution center level. The approach is illustrated in the decision between two alternative transportation modes with different average lead times, lead time variabilities, and transportation costs. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45244 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45243 The impact and dynamics of centralization in supply chain decision-making Sohn, Tae-Hee; Rangavittal, Guruprakash (Guruprakash Coimbatore) Companies with a corporate supply chain department and multiple business units use one of two methods for their supply chain decision-making: centralized decision-making where supply chain decisions are made at the corporate level by the central supply chain department or decentralized decision-making where supply chain decisions are made at a business unit level. We investigate the hypothesis that a centralized organizational structure helps companies lower costs and a decentralized organization structure enables companies to quickly respond to customer needs on a real time basis and improve customer service. To evaluate our hypothesis we surveyed industry current practice. Based on our analysis from the survey, we identified three factors that influence companies to adopt either a centralized or decentralized organization structure: customer service, supply chain management cost, and organizational control. We identified that a "hybrid" structure, where strategic functions are centralized and operational functions are decentralized, had the lowest supply chain management cost percentage to sales. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-89). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45243 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45233 An assessment of the value of retail ready packaging Jackson, Kathleen Anne; Burke, Ling Bai Use of retail-ready packaging reduces the costs of replenishing store shelves by eliminating the labor of removing packaging materials and stocking individual items on shelves. While reducing costs for retailers, retail-ready packaging formats increase costs for consumer products manufacturers. This research project assesses the use of retail-ready packaging across varying retailer types and products to determine conditions where the value of retail-ready packaging is maximized. Taking into account the supply chain benefits and costs for the retailer, six U.S. retail channels were selected for study: supermarket, wholesale club, limited assortment, super warehouse, drug and supercenter. One retailer from each of these categories was studied. The research found a wide range in opportunity for benefits and costs. The important factors influencing the net value of retail-ready packaging for retailers were product velocity, inventory carrying costs, SKU assortment relative to retail space and store replenishment procedures. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45233 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45232 Homebased healthcare : issues and challenges Nagpure, Prashant Healthcare costs in United States are projected to rise to 20% of GDP by 2015. This is a cause of major concern and current political debate. The largest contributor to this cost is the hospital cost accounting for 30 % to the healthcare expenditure. Segmenting healthcare through new delivery mechanisms may be an answer to the rising cost. Disruptive innovations like Retail clinic's is a prime example of this segmentation providing patients increased convenience at a reduced cost. This thesis presents the case of evolving Homebased healthcare as an alternative segment for healthcare with the objective that it would reduce the costs of healthcare by early monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of disease, a paradigm on which preventive healthcare is based. Synthesizing the information and research available this thesis proposes key elements of Homebased healthcare using which a model for Homebased healthcare is derived. Technology is discussed as a key enabler and a discussion is made regarding some of the current trends in evolving technology. Applying some lessons learned from other industry in high technology sector, this thesis then comment on the supply chain challenges arising due to homebased healthcare model. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-80). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45232 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45231 Vendor-managed Inventory forecast optimization and integration Kou, Xihang In the retail industry, consumer package goods (CPG) manufacturers have been working with retailers to use Vendor-managed Inventory (VMI) to improve the overall supply chain inventory turns and finished product velocity. This thesis explores those opportunities where a consumer packaged goods company can benefit from using VMI information to improve forecasting. First, this thesis discusses a novel way to compare those forecasts at downstream and upstream demand planning levels. Forecast errors are calculated in relation to the forecast data aggregation levels. Second, a causal model is used to analyze the contributing factors of high demand planning forecast. Finally, recommendations are provided on how to use VMI information and thus incorporate VMI forecasts into the upstream supply chain planning process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45231 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45230 The impact of "Never Run Out" policy assured supply chain with dual reorder point expediting Lee, Gil Su Managing a big supply chain for one of the largest quick service restaurant companies, especially when the company has a policy called "Never Run Out," is very challenging. A traditional way of managing inventory requires high level of safety stock if high level of uncertainty is involved. Sources of uncertainty include variability in demand from frequent promotions or seasonal effect, variability in order lead time from using low-cost mode of transportation, or lack of information sharing. This project developed an expediting policy with dual reorder points with demand threshold and tested the policy with a Monte Carlo simulation. Previous research on two reorder points provide great foundation for this study but they lack consideration on demand variability and approaches to set up reorder points. We propose an algorithm with a demand threshold to trigger an expedited order and heuristic approaches to develop reorder points where the total cost can be minimized while service requirements are met. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-65). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45230 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45229 Supply chain planning decisions under demand uncertainty Huang, Yanfeng Anna Sales and operational planning that incorporates unconstrained demand forecasts has been expected to improve long term corporate profitability. Companies are considering such unconstrained demand forecasts in their decisions on investment in supply chain resources. However, demand forecasts are often associated with uncertainty. This research applies Monte Carlo simulation, value at risk and gain curve analysis, and real option analysis to investigate how the uncertainty of demands affects supply chain planning in order to make better supply chain investment decisions. This analytical framework was used to analyze the ocean shipping plans and inland trucking arrangements for Chiquita. Demands for Product A and front haul over a six-year period were simulated based upon forecasted distributions. The net income, revenue and costs as affected by ocean shipping plans were obtained by inputting the simulated demands to ocean shipping models. The major decision for Chiquita is whether to charter one large ship or two ships which provide approximately equivalent capacity. A large ship would save fuel costs. The plans for two smaller ships have the flexibility of using one ship only if future demand or price reactions warrant it. Using the analytical framework, a plan for two smaller ships is superior to that for one large ship because of significant real option value, particularly in the event of increases in fuel costs in the future. Chiquita's current inland trucking model, a mixed arrangement with a dedicated fleet and common carriers, seems to offer a good solution for the future needs. A model provided in this research offers a simple method to optimize the size of the dedicated fleet. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; "June 2008."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-71). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45229 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45228 A multi-echelon supply chain model for strategic inventory assessment through the deployment of kanbans Hodge, Philip J. (Philip James); Lemaitre, Joshua D As global competition in the manufacturing space grows, so do corporations' needs for sophisticated and optimized management systems to enable continuous flows of information and materials across the many tiers within their supply chains. With the complexities introduced by the variability in the demand for finished goods as well as by the variability in lead-time of transportation, procurement, production and administrative activities, corporations have turned to quantitative modeling of their supply chains to address these issues. Based on the data of a heavy machinery manufacturer headquartered in the US, this research introduces a robust model for the deployment of strategic inventory buffers across a multi-echelon manufacturing system. Specifically, this study establishes a replenishment policy for inventory using a multiple bin, or Kanban, system for each part number in the assembly of products from our sponsors tractor line. We employ a numerical simulation to evaluate and optimize the various inventory deployment scenarios. Utilizing several thousand runs of the simulation, we derive a generalized treatment for each part number based on an econometric function of the parameters associated with lead-time, order frequency, inventory value and order costing. The pilot for the simulation focuses on the parts data for three earthmoving products across eight echelons, but scales to n products across m echelons. Our results show that this approach predicted the optimal quantities of Kanbans for 95% of parts to a level of accuracy +/- 3 bins. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-102). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45228 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45227 Network design and safety stock placement for a multi-echelon supply chain Gupta, Hitesh With the increasing complexities in supply chains and increasing global trade, integrated supply chain network design is utilized by the firms in order to reduce the overall cost while meeting the customer demand with requisite levels of service. This view of collaborative approach towards supply chain design has the potential of providing competitive edge for the firms in a highly competitive environment with high variability of end customer demand. In this study we present a framework for the design of a multi echelon supply chain network facing uncertain demand. We develop a comprehensive procedure for the optimization of a multi echelon supply chain. We provide the details of each step to describe the methodology and develop mathematical models for the design of a multi echelon distribution network. The procedure has been developed for the design of network flow and the placement of safety stock for a multi echelon distribution network. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 80). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45227 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45226 Green automotive supply chain for an emerging market Fisch, Gene (Gene Joseph); Neo, Tien Song Paul Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) within the automotive industry is largely based on combining lean manufacturing with mandated supplier adoption of ISO 14001-compliant Environmental Management Systems (EMS). This approach evolved from automotive manufacturers seeking to expediently expand green practices within existing lean supply chains. However, a new automotive enterprise, without the legacy issues of an existing supply chain, has the opportunity to customize its supply chain from scratch, to comprehensively achieve both financial and green objectives. This thesis investigated a more holistic approach to creating a financially-viable green automotive supply chain for the MIT Vehicle Design Summit (VDS) - a start-up enterprise planning to enter the Indian emerging market with a new type of eco-friendly automobile. First, a hypothetical VDS supply chain was postulated by analyzing the contextual challenges of the Indian emerging economy, so as to optimize the location, supplier selection and manufacturing models within its business context. To ensure that the capital investments needed to fulfill the supply chain's green objectives do not compromise its primary purpose of value creation, a Triple Bottom Line technique called Environmental Cost Accounting was used as a managerial decision tool, which demonstrated the financial viability of GSCM for VDS. Next, green solutions for each supply chain function were identified for integration into the hypothetical supply chain. It was found that many important green solutions for an automotive supply chain like supplier selection, concurrent engineering, cascading of lean production best practices to the extended supply chain, fuel-efficient transport practices and green infrastructure design, have already been developed by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.; (cont.) Also, product recovery through End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) processing was identified as a vital green supply chain function required for closing the loop between sales and sourcing. The key issue was integrating these disparate solutions into a holistic environmental management framework for VDS to implement and sustain. This was accomplished using an IS014001-based EMS as the master plan. The developed EMS Manual is a pioneering document that leverages chain-wide participation in existing green initiatives like the Green Suppliers Network, SmartWay Transport Partnership and LEED Green Building Rating, to realize a green supply chain by ensuring continuous monitoring and improvement of the implemented initiatives. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-97). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45226 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45225 Customer focused collaborative demand planning Jha, Ratan (Ratan Mohan) Many firms worldwide have adopted the process of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process where internal departments within a firm collaborate with each other to generate a demand forecast. In a collaborative demand planning process buyers and sellers collaborate with each other to generate a mutually agreed upon forecast which takes into account the needs and limitations of both buyers and sellers. In this research we concentrate on finding out the value from both statistical and qualitative forecasts. We apply standard forecasting algorithms to generate a statistical forecast. We also generate a hybrid model that is a weighted technique using both a statistical and qualitative forecast. Then we evaluate the statistical, hybrid, and qualitative collaborative forecasts using an error analysis methodology. Finally we recommend an approach for forecasting a family of items based on our analysis and results. We also recommend changes to the existing process so that our recommendations on the forecasting approach can get seamlessly integrated into the overall process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 74). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45225 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45224 Evolutionary struggles of supply chain strategy in home-based health care delivery Fowler, Katherine Szabo As the healthcare industry in United States continues to be constrained by increasing costs, new delivery channels are coming into practice. One such channel is home healthcare. Home healthcare presents challenges on the basis of acceptability by the medical community, insurers and patients, availability of care in fragmented locations and affordability of the product or service in comparison to other healthcare modes. This study analyzes these challenges in an attempt to suggest strategies to allow home healthcare to grow as an industry and the successful sustainability of that growth. Methods used to analyze home healthcare include the study of two home healthcare firms, one pharmaceutical manufacturer who used home healthcare to augment their product, and in-depth interviews with several stakeholders within the healthcare system. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, June 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-72). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45224 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45223 Analysis and cost versus reliability in a multi-echelon supply chain for a chemical plant Li, Nan, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Zhang, Guanghao The object of the thesis is to develop a simple approach or heuristic for managing various types of uncertainty within a chemical production/inventory system. Later the company can use it to minimize the total cost at any required Cycle Service Level (CSL) under variable demand and production reliability. To solve this problem, we will base historical data to estimate the distribution type, the average demand and the standard deviation for the production line and initially assume that some factors like holding cost, penalty cost, demand and lead-time affect the production/inventory policy. Then, based on the above data and assumptions we build a model in Excel and then simulate some cases where change variables input. The model then is verified by Geert-Jan van Houtum Methodology. Finally, we will carry out the outcome analysis to capture the essence or insights of the multi-echelon problem. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-63). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45223 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45222 Framework for selection of distribution strategies Li, Chunlin, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology When a company grows rapidly, the existing infrastructure of the supply chain system set up long ago, faces an increasing pressure to meet new challenges and needs to be restructured. A seasonal seed manufacturing company, such as Seed Corp, has only five months of manufacturing time in the Fall each year. Customers usually do not want the seed delivery until Spring. Such companies face a tremendous pressure to find space to store their products during the manufacturing peak season. Companies must search for good strategies to meet these challenges. This thesis assesses the framework for selection of distribution strategies, reviews the these strategies, and analyzes the benefits and challenges among them. This research analyzes trade-offs between centralized and decentralized distribution systems, as well as between service level and cost. The analysis focuses on the response time and total cost for four distribution options. We have chosen Seed Corp as a case study. As the result of the research, the thesis suggests distribution strategies to meet the company's supply chain challenges. Finally, we recommend the further areas that need to be explored. Thesis (M. Eng in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-67). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45222 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44928 An engineering approach to improving hospital supply chains Cheng, Scott Hsiang-Jen; Whittemore, Graham J This thesis explores supply chain management practices that have been implemented, and have improved supply chains in industries outside of healthcare. The presented supply chain practices have been selected because they have the potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs and improve patient safety within hospitals. Due to the diverse nature of hospitals and a unique product profile, there is no "one size fits all" supply chain solution that can be implemented. Therefore, product specific characteristics are discussed that can be used by hospitals in order to develop segmentation policies. Supply chain best practices from outside of the healthcare industry are presented for each category of segmented products. The culmination of this thesis is the presentation of a supply chain that will enable the hospital to significantly reduce inventory storage space, on hand inventory value, and time spent by nurses managing inventory. The proposed supply chain model is patient specific and involves the delivery of items from an offsite warehouse directly to the patient's bedside. In order to successfully implement a new supply chain solution in a hospital setting, change management is a critical part of the process. Methods are presented that have resulted in successful implementations of complex systems within hospitals. Three areas must be considered when managing change in this type of setting, the healthcare environment, the hospital's internal management and operational aspects of the hospital supply chain. Using simulation models, we show that implementation of the proposed supply chain for appropriately segmented products will result in significant supply chain cost savings and boost the revenue. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-132). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44928 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42928 Evolutionary supply chain risk management : transforming culture for sustainable competitive advantage Lévy, Romain (Romain Georges Jean) In today's fast-paced and turbulent global economy, the topic of risk management has gained significant interest in the business and academic world. However, in practice, risk management remains rather underdeveloped and often dealt with in an informal and reactive manner. To this end, we propose a comprehensive approach to supply chain risk management based on academic and business research and apply it to a company to develop a case study. We survey the state-of-the-art of supply chain risk management by exploring both the qualitative and quantitative sides of risk management in this thesis. We study in detail the reasons why risk is often neglected in organizations, and learn from several conceptual frameworks that have been proposed in the literature. On the more quantitative side, we explore tools that have been used or could be used for supply chain risk management, such as Decision Analysis or Real Options. We apply our proposed supply chain risk management framework to the case company, focusing primarily on qualitative methods. Data for the analysis is collected by way of semistructured interviews with business executives and relevant company documents. The results are presented to shed light on the current risk management practices at the company by highlighting their strengths and potential weaknesses. The research also draws from fields outside the normal realm of supply chain risk management. A policy perspective is taken to isolate important drivers of risk that lie beyond the direct control of organizations, such as political uncertainty and regulations. The objective is to promote a more proactive outlook in organizations to anticipate and exploit the uncertainty in the business environment. Similarly, a market perspective is used to articulate a novel way to uncover information asymmetry in the domain of risk management. Instead of simply pointing to asymmetry as an undesirable fact of business world, we propose two approaches that could be used for developing creative solutions, specifically, prediction markets and credit derivatives concepts. In conclusion, we argue that evolutionary risk management processes accompanied by a radical shift in business risk culture are required to achieve competitive advantage through supply chain risk management. Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program; and, (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-94). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42928 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40875 Improving promotional effectiveness through supplier-retailer collaboration Kapur, Gautam, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Liu, Bin In the consumer products industry, retail chains and manufacturers run promotions to maintain consumer and brand loyalty. The two major issues in planning and executing promotions are to accurately forecast demand and to control Out-of-Stock at the shelf. This thesis addresses both these issues. At the strategic level, "Collaborative, Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment" is used to define a process for two companies to collaboratively plan and execute promotions. At an operational level, the single period multi-item newsboy concept with a budget constraint is used to define an optimization model that helps determine the right budget and order quantities for products under a promotion at a targeted service level to improve profit or sales. The concept of Supply Contracts is researched to identify some ways that can be used to optimize the whole supply chain rather than just the retailer's. The value of optimal collaboration was confirmed in the results shown by the model. When optimizing the entire chain, the maximize profit optimization model achieved combined profit improvements of 37% as compared to an actual promotion.; (cont.) When only the retailer profit was maximized, the optimization model resulted in 5.9% profit improvements for the retailer and 0.3% profit improvements for the supplier as compared to an actual promotion. Finally, the revenue maximization model showed that after a certain point, increasing the budget did not result in increased service levels. This research can also be applied to new product launches, seasonality of products as well as daily replenishments. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-61). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40875 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40355 Quantifying the value of reduced lead time and increased delivery frequency Walkenhorst, Joseph Sean A large consumer package goods company would like to know the answer to the following question. What is the value to its customers of increased delivery frequency or reduced lead time? To answer this question, we collected shipment and inventory data for three customers: a mass merchandiser, a grocery store chain, and a drug store chain in the US. We examined the shipment histories to the customers' Distribution Centers (DCs) in the West, the Midwest, and the East for SKUs from three product families. We developed a continuous review QR inventory model to calculate the theoretical inventories for these high volume SKUs. We used this model to assess the theoretical inventory requirements for multiple scenarios entailing some form of increased frequency or decreased lead time. Some companies run heavy promotions during which time the majority of sales occur. If such a company is to benefit from reduced lead time from its supplier to their DCs, shipments from their DCs to stores must be frequent enough to respond to their stores' needs during a promotion.; (cont.) If this is not the case, the main opportunity to reduce inventory will be through better promotional planning. The data showed that there was a great amount of variability in the average inventory levels at the customers' DCs, which suggested that some DCs have large excesses of inventory for some SKUs. If customers could simply match their best in class inventory levels across all other products and locations, possibly $120 million could be saved annually in inventory carrying costs across all of this company's customers. The model also suggested that increasing delivery frequency provides a greater value than decreasing lead time. The methodology used to calculate the value of potential savings to customers could be applied to other locations or other industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 63). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40355 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40117 Optimizing the use of dedicated and contract transportation assets to maximize total system profit Lee, Tae Whee; Po, Ronald Each week, FruitCo (FC) ships over a thousand containers of fresh fruits to its various port facilities in the US. Once the containers arrive at the port, approximately half of these containers are received by customers while the remaining half is handled by FC and delivered to customers by either a dedicated or contract carrier. For each containers delivered by FC, heuristics and cost-analysis are used to make the carrier decision. Like other shippers with multiple carrier options, FC needs to both maximize profit and preserve service quality. FC's existing decision framework focuses on fronthaul profit for each delivery while its heuristics do not reflect specific service or cost strategies. Additionally, the existence of backhaul revenue, late returns of containers, limits on containers and dedicated drivers, and a variable ship arrival and departure schedule meant that existing decisions were limited in scope and rarely maximized profit for FC's delivery operations (part of port operations) as a whole. In our thesis, we created a new decision framework to maximize FC's container operations at one of its ports, Port A (PA). We grouped containers from a single ship as an interdependent set of deliveries, forming a single cycle.; (cont.) Accounting for various constraints and potential backhauls, our optimization maximized the profit of a single cycle. The decisions made by the optimization achieved a weekly profit improvement of over 30% without affecting service quality. Supplementing our model, we conducted a sensitivity analysis on the number of containers and dedicated drivers to provide FC insight into its optimal asset size at PA. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 100). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40117 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40116 Optimizing Order Promising Li, Zhipeng (Zhipeng Simon) Online purchasing is now popular following the growth of E-business. Retailers ordering online will get the exact delivery date of goods for their better management of sales operations. Suppliers should keep their competence at order promising to attract customers in the market filled with increasing competition. Generally Order Promising means that the supplier receiving an order should determine to accept the order or not. If accepted, then the supplier should determine the delivery date. Necessary data should be replied to the ordering customer. Optimizing Order Promising (OOP) is Order Promising (OP) that is optimized. This thesis probed into OP and OOP and summarized the characteristics and differences of the current OP software products on the basis of interviews and the investigation into the existing OP software suppliers - i2 Technologies, Oracle and SAP. Backed by the thorough analysis on a particular case study company, this thesis discusses the workflow and model of OOP by combining the author's own thoughts on improving existing OP workflows. A company can add many new functions to the OOP model designed in this thesis on the basis of the appropriate adjustments to the existing OP workflows and systems.; (cont.) For example, different customers can be managed in a classified way in accordance with historical sales; customer trust can be increased by the approach of Customer Allocation; every deal of the company can be guaranteed to be profitable; and no negligence to important customers will occur due to favoring unimportant customers. Moreover, in dealing with the disruptions that have frequently occurred these years, the thesis designed the order promising process dealing with emergencies for the manufacturers of public utilities, ensuring that a company will implement their social responsibility while harvesting profits. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-89). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40116 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40115 Managing risk in premium fruit and vegetable supply chains Merrill, Joshua Matthew Production planning in premium fresh produce supply chains is challenging due to the uncertainty of both supply and demand. A two-stage planning algorithm using mixed integer linear programming and Monte Carlo simulation is developed for production planning in the case of a premium branded tomato. Output from the optimization model is sequentially input into the simulation to provide management with information on expected profit and customer service levels at the grocery retail distribution center. The models are formulated to incorporate uncertainty in demand, yield, and harvest failure. The outcome of the algorithm is an annual production plan that meets minimum customer service requirements, while optimizing profit. The resulting timing, location, and quantity of acres suggested by the algorithm are evaluated against the current industry heuristic of performing deterministic calculations, based on average yield and demand, and then planting double the required acreage. The suggested two-stage planning algorithm achieves 90 percent customer service with 20 percent less planted acres and almost three times as much profit than the industry heuristic of doubling the acreage. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; "June 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-71). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40115 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40114 Inventory segmentation and production planning for chemical manufacturing Phadnis, Shardul Sharad, 1978- Developing a cyclical schedule for producing multiple items on a single processor under stochastic demand that minimizes total setup and inventory holding costs is an important problem. This problem is faced in many continuous production environments such as chemical or petrochemical production, where the costs of switching production from one item over to another are very high. Due to high changeover costs, each item is produced in large batches and its demand is fulfilled from the finished goods inventory. Holding this inventory incurs inventory carrying costs. Therefore, good production planning policies are required to determine when and how much of each item should be produced so that the total cost of setup changeovers and holding inventory is minimized, while ensuring that sufficient inventory is available to meet customer demand which varies over time. In this thesis, I present the work done to develop production planning policies for a large chemical manufacturing company that operates in the environment described above. The problem described above is called the Economic Lot Scheduling Problem (ELSP) and is known to be NP-hard. So, optimal solutions are hard to find and one has to rely on heuristic procedures to find good solutions.; (cont.) In this thesis, I first present four fundamental inventory planning models relevant to the ELSP and discuss research works that specifically address the ELSP. I then describe the characteristics of the production and the planning processes at the chemical manufacturer where this work was carried out and present a heuristic procedure to solve the ELSP. This is followed by a demonstration of how the procedure can be applied at the manufacturing company and presentation of the results of a simulation experiment conducted to test the effectiveness of the solution. Finally, I will discuss two important issues related to the implementation of the solution at the company. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-83). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40114 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40113 Reducing preventable adverse drug events in hospital settings Ramos, Gregg (Gregg Allen) It has been estimated that on average, every patient admitted to a hospital is subject to at least one medication error per day (IOM, 2006). Errors may occur during various stages of the Medication Use System; a system composed of various tasks performed from the point of prescribing medication to the point in which a patient is monitored for adverse effects. Studies have shown that a majority of the errors that occur during the Medication Use System have little if any adverse effect on patients. However, there are classes of medication errors known as Adverse Drug Events (ADE's) which can cause significant harm to a patient. ADE's are not only dangerous but they have been estimated to cost the health care industry and the public in excess of $3.5 billion dollars per year (IOM, 2007). While extensive, current literature that exists on preventable ADE's varies greatly in regards how prevalent the issue is. The lack of a nationwide information system for identifying and defining ADE's only exacerbates the problem. In addition, when significant errors do occur, the repercussions for clinicians and hospitals are far from proportional. Several studies suggest that over one quarter of all medication related injuries are preventable (IOM, 2007).; (cont.) Many industry observers have long touted computerized information systems as the Holy Grail for reducing medication errors. While there is little question that computerized systems can reduce ADE's, hospitals and clinicians frequently ignore other solutions that can offer greater impact in improving the level of care that is being provided. The health care industry has long been touted as fostering a culture that supports at risk behavior and shuns the use of standardized processes. The lack of transparency into the health care industry coupled with an unwillingness to embrace cultural change continues to be one of the largest barriers in reducing the number of preventable ADE's. This paper recommends 4 different solutions that will change the culture of the health care industry, incent hospitals to focus on reducing preventable ADE's, improve the processes already in place for providing patient care and provide clinicians with the most up to date health care information available. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40113 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40112 What is the value of logistics for a large pharmaceutical firm? Tiwari, Prasoon, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Understanding business needs arising out of both, external and internal environments, is an essential first step in determining the value of logistics in a large pharmaceutical firm. In this research, we have used a variety of conceptual models and frameworks to explore and understand the pharmaceutical business environment and its present & future business needs. Specifically, two questions anchored the research: What will be the impact of drug technologies on logistics activities? And, should logistics activities be outsourced? Drug technology contributes significantly to a pharmaceutical firm's revenue, but marketing also play an important role in a drug's success by influencing doctors' decisions in favor of the firm's drugs. Since it is difficult to ascertain the true value of a pharmaceutical drug, perception of service plays a critical role in conveying the positive attributes of the drugs to the potential consumers. In this context, this thesis investigates if logistics & supply chain strategy should be aligned with marketing and drug technology strategies to maximize pharmaceutical firm's competitive advantage.; (cont.) To this end, we investigated the impact of dominant drug technologies on the logistics function in the pharmaceutical industry as technology drives revenue growth in the industry. It was found that business & competitive needs lead firms to develop new drugs using different types of innovative drug technologies. Indeed, the requirements of different drug technologies are different and impact business decisions related to procurement, inventory, transportation, and facility network design in different ways. Therefore, by ignoring the impact of chosen technology on supply chain design, a firm will find itself in a difficult position. Thus, we strongly believe that supply chains play an important role in extracting the maximum value out of its huge investment in drug development and marketing. Therefore, outsourcing of logistics activities should be done only after analyzing how different drug technology categories will affect operational metric requirements of logistics activities and if logistics activities can protect the economic profits. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; "June 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-69). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40112 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40111 Biofuels supply chain characterization Banerjee, Anindya, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Noguer, José Luis Ethanol can be made from agricultural residues like wheat straw and from crops dedicated to energy use, like switchgrass. We study the logistics aspects of this transformation and determine the main characteristics of the supply chain making ethanol from cellulose. Important to the final acceptability of ethanol as a transportation fuel is both the economics as well as the environmental aspect of using ethanol. In this study we analyze the buildup of cost as biomass is transformed into fuel. We also look at all the steps involved and describe them from a supply chain perspective We have found that the main cost components in the cellulosic ethanol production are biomass production, harvesting and ethanol refining. We have also found that the main factor in reducing the overall production cost is the biomass to ethanol conversion factor. The development of new technologies to convert biomass into ethanol becomes a critical issue to achieve the cost targets imposed in order to make ethanol more competitive with other sources of energy such as fossil fuels. An increase in the current conversion factor of 42% could potentially yield to a decrease of nearly 15% in the: total production cost of cellulosic ethanol.; (cont.) Other factors such as increasing the refining plant size and biomass yield can also help to reduce the production cost but we found its impact to be lower than that of the conversion factor. Finally, we also performed a strategic analysis of the entire supply chain to determine how is this industry likely to develop and who will have more bargaining power and therefore will realize most of the value and profits in the supply chain. Our analysis shows that in such a dynamic scenario as in the alternate energy industry, the best option is to build sustained advantage by strong alliances with different partners within the supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-89). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40111 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40110 Customer segmentation in the medical devices industry Basu, Probal; Kim, Eun Kyun This thesis addresses Company X's concerns about its product shipment options. The company ships over 70% of its products to its customers using the primary service provider that ensures that the product is at the customer site by 10:30 AM next day. As per the understanding with its customers, the company, absorbs the cost of premium shipping and does not pass it on to most of its customers. The company believes that this priority service is a source of competitive advantage that helps it get customer loyalty and thereby increases sales. However it is not a normal industry practice to provide this service free to the customers. Keeping in mind this enormous cost burden, Company X wants to minimize this cost. Medical device sales are non-seasonal and do not show promotional effects. We analyzed data for the months of June and October, 2006 as a part of our research. The objective of our data analysis was to validate the proposed approaches we reviewed as a basis for proposing ways to segment customers for improving service while reducing cost. We proposed three types of segmentation: by region, by order method and by division. Segmentation by region looks at dividing the customers by into 4 regions based on their location.; (cont.) Segmentation by ordering method splits the customers in terms of whether they order using phone, fax or EDI while segmentation by division breaks up the customer base in terms of the various divisions the company has. Our study revealed that the company can expect to save over 3 million dollars annually by not offering this service free of charge to its customers. If customers are not convinced that the lower level of service meets their needs, they may pay for use of premium shipping. We demonstrate that the lower level of service will likely be just as effective and hence the company can guarantee that the product would reach the customer on time. Given the criticality of the parts that the company ships, it is advised to take its customers into confidence before making major policy changes. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-76). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40110 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40109 Rapid replenishment at a consumer product goods manufacturer Becker, Deborah Eugenia; Korchagin, Roman Viktorovich Increasing supply chain velocity has adverse consequences for consumer product goods manufacturers, but creates value and flexibility for retail stores. This thesis outlines a case study of a rapid replenishment pilot project between the food manufacturer General Mills, Inc. and their retail customer Giant Eagle. We outline constraints that General Mills had to impose upon their customer so it could remain profitable and retain its efficient operating strategy. We offer recommendations to General Mills on how to grow and sustain their rapid replenishment business. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-75). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40109 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40108 Decision making in the HIV/AIDS supply chain Cao, Elaine Phu During the first two decades of HIV/AIDS awareness, the U.S. and foreign governments responded slowly to the crisis. In contrast today, as the pandemic continues, initiatives of nonprofit organizations have dramatically increased the amount of available funding. Countries must work to effectively allocate the influx of resources. This paper examines one area for improvement within the context of the developing world: supply chain management. The HIV/AIDS supply chain in a resource-poor setting differs from traditional networks. In order to properly manage operational activities, it is important to understand inherent system complexities, such as bureaucratic funding, forced ordering, shrinkage, and human capital constraints. This research explores these issues and identifies five scenarios that impact performance measures. The model, developed through an integrated supply chain approach, simulates the effects of scenarios on inventory level, cycle service level, and missed treatment dosages. Supply chain planning without accounting for system complexities leads to significant drops in service performance from theoretical expectations. Countries should order excess inventory to compensate for these issues.; (cont.) Funding efforts should focus on training resources to properly manage treatment demand and target operational changes that yield the highest improvements on performance metrics. Short-run and long-run tactics must be aligned to avoid the threat of widespread resistance, which results from inconsistent treatment and poor patient care. The goal of this research is to understand the HIV/AIDS supply chain and identify the best areas for resource investment. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; "June 2007." Vita.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40108 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40107 The impact of international logistics parks on global supply chains El Amrani, Ali (Ali El Jautei) With the globalization of industries since the 1980's, logistics parks have emerged as a solution for the consolidation of operations and logistics services for global companies. In the beginning, logistics parks were limited to enabling companies to centralize their operations using shared warehousing and transportation infrastructures; however, these logistics parks now additionally offer a range of value-added services to enhance the supply chain. Most of these logistics parks were developed in the past decade, and there is little research on these facilities and the value-added services they are providing. The impact of these services on the global supply chain is also not well understood. Managers of logistics parks from around the world were interviewed and surveyed about the general infrastructures at their parks, and about the value-added services they provide for the companies operating at their facilities. Elements of the physical infrastructure and value-added services were grouped and ranked based on their impact on supply chains, and attractiveness to customers.; (cont.) The physical location and infrastructure of these facilities represent the most important factors in selecting logistics parks; however, other value-added services are gradually gaining importance and attractiveness due to increasing customer requirements and supply chain complexities. To cope with this change, logistics parks must carefully select the value-added services that are the most attractive to their customers, and which have the most positive impact on their supply chains. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40107 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40106 Sales & operations planning in a global business Honstain, Christopher Michael As companies become more global and begin to outsource manufacturing and other services, the uncertainty in the supply resource increases. Demand uncertainties increase as these same companies expand into new countries to serve new customers. The globalization of business has created problems that many companies do not know how to overcome. One way of overcoming these challenges is to implement a process called global sales and operations planning (S&OP). Sales and operations planning is a collaborative process that aligns the supply side of an organization with the demand side. Aligning the goals of the different departments eliminates the "silo" mentality and creates a streamlined organization. This streamlined organization works as one team with the goal of meeting the financial expectations set by the executive team. Global sales and operations planning is a process used to match supply and demand throughout the world. To do this effectively, the process must be divided into multiple processes based on the characteristics of the supply chain for the product, the business units within the company, and geography that the business unit is located in.; (cont.) When the S&OP process is divided correctly, it allows the executive members of the company to communicate financial expectations to each of the business units, while the individual business units can match the supply and demand characteristics of the product. Vascucorp. is a company that is facing the same problems that many other companies face when trying to implement an S&OP process into their company. This thesis will focus on trying to form a common platform that companies can use to implement a successful global sales and operations planning process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 44). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40106 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40105 Statistical process control approach to reduce the bullwhip effect Iyer, Harikumar; Prasad, Saurabh The bullwhip effect is a pervasive problem in multi echelon supply chains that results in inefficient production operations and higher inventory levels. The causes of the bullwhip effect are well understood in industry and academia. Quantitative and qualitative solutions to attenuate this effect have been proposed in various research studies. In this research a quantitative solution in the form of a Statistical Process Control (SPC) based inventory management system is proposed that reduces the bullwhip effect while reducing inventory without compromising service level requirements for a variety of products. The strength of this methodology is in its effectiveness in reducing bullwhip for fast moving products in the mature phase of their lifecycles where improving production efficiency and lowering inventory investment are critical. However, fill rate issues are observed for slow moving products and therefore, the methodology is not recommended for such products. Finally, the application of this methodology to reduce the bullwhip effect is illustrated for a product family of a medical devices company. The results for the different classes of products in this family are discussed. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-68). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40105 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40104 Forward buying of non-commodity consumer goods Kight, Jeffrey Wayne This thesis examines the feasibility of commodity-like forward and futures markets in non-commodity consumer goods. Benefits of information gleaned from the sale of products for future delivery are examined, as well as the market for wine futures, which serves as an example of a non-commodity futures market. Analysis is conducted by controlled experiments in a system dynamics model that simulates the bullwhip effect. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; "June 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 63). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40104 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40103 Who stocks the shelf? : an analysis of retail replenishment strategies Kuai, Jiaqi The objective of this thesis is to analyze the trade-offs of two retail replenishment strategies, DSD (Direct Store Delivery) model and Traditional model. Conceptual and cost models are set up to analyze the trade-offs, and numerous interviews were conducted to obtain insights from academic scholars and industry practitioners. Retail products, retailers and suppliers are categorized according to their synthesized attributes. Based on such categories, retail replenishment strategies are tested to determine which categories are more suitable for DSD or traditional strategies. Besides qualitative analysis on tradeoffs of alternatives, quantitative cost models are built to quantify the tradeoffs between alternatives. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40103 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40102 Strategies for an integrated US industry response to a humanitarian disaster Lam, Sheau Kai; Melofchik, Vanessa This thesis focuses on developing strategies to improve coordination between private businesses, relief agencies, and the government in order to deliver more efficient and effective disaster relief during major national disasters within the United States. We approached the study of humanitarian disaster relief using three contexts - (1) it focuses on disaster relief for "major disasters" which are defined as an event or events that are sufficiently large in scale and impact that overwhelm local response capacity and resources, (2) the study is confined to the geographical context of the U.S. and (3) it uses the Hurricane Katrina disaster for the insights and lessons learned. Based on literature research, interviews, and case studies, we were able to develop a framework for developing effective partnerships between private corporations, NGOs and relief organizations that would help strengthen disaster relief efforts. We also developed recommendations for further improvements in disaster relief supply chains and other supporting public initiatives. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; "June 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-152). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40102 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40098 Leveraging downstream data in the footwear/apparel industry Axline, Jeffrey Edward; Lebl, Brian Joseph Retailers collect information regarding consumer purchases on a transactional basis. This data is not completely being leveraged by manufacturers in the footwear and apparel industry to increase on-shelf availability. However, certain apparel and consumer products companies have developed best-in-class methods for collecting and utilizing data to enhance supply chain visibility and to drive increased sales. A description of these best-in-class practices is provided, strategies to use the data are presented, and the importance of collaboration among supply chain partners is discussed. Further, point of sale data from a footwear and apparel manufacturer is analyzed to illustrate how the data can be leveraged to predict subsequent season sales, to improve forecasting accuracy, and to allocate replenishment inventory more effectively. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; "June 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 65). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40098 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40097 Study of supply chain disruptions at a high tech corporation Doucakis, Theodore Although supply chain disruptions are inevitable, frameworks have been developed for addressing supply chain risks. These frameworks present methods on mitigating, reducing or managing the risks through different approaches such as multiple sourcing. The research presented here identified two factors that contribute to successful recovery from supply chain disruptions. One factor is efficient communication between stakeholders in a supply chain. The communication needs to be present before a disruption occurs to enable fast detection. After a disruption occurs efficient communications will help minimize confusion and provide clear understanding of the recovery effort between stakeholders. The other factor is the inventory position downstream of the disruption. In particular, the available days of supply downstream from the disruption relative to the length of the disruption are crucial to the ability of a supply chain to recover from the disruption without disturbing the continuity of supply. In response to the effect of the days of supply compared to the recovery time a simple model is developed for assessing supply chain risk for an enterprise that sells products defined through a bill-of-materials.; (cont.) The model takes into consideration the complexity of a product as more parts and more levels are added to the bill of material. The supply chain risk score metric permits comparison across products, companies and industries. The model is simple to apply by analyzing each part in bill-of-materials by a ranking system comparing the recovery time to the days of supply downstream from the disruption. The supply chain risk score is to be used in parallel with other supply chain metrics in order to determine the best approach in reducing risks to an enterprise. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 61). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40097 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40096 Supply chain disruptions : managing risks vs. managing crises Lee, Garrett J. (Garrett James); Chang Zen-Lee M This thesis looks at two back-to-back disruptive supply chain events, one due to a sole-supplier's bankruptcy and the other caused by Hurricane Rita, that occurred at a specialty chemical company, and uses these examples to demonstrate how managing crises is more costly than managing risks. In examining the events surrounding the sole-supplier bankruptcy, managing a crisis cost this specialty chemical company 45% more money than managing a risk. Through the findings of these two disruptive events, a framework, the Eye of Providence, is created to manage supply chain risks. First, an organization must determine how developed its risk-management protocol is. Next, by studying past disruptive events and determining the key impact factors, an organization could calculate and learn about the opportunity cost of managing crisis. Then, by continuously evaluating its suppliers and rigorously applying those key impact factors to the analysis of its supply chain practice, an organization could evaluate and identify its current vulnerabilities.; (cont.) Finally, by proactively monitoring event-based warning signals, or disruption indicators, an organization could assess its potential supply chain risks, and plan accordingly. Whether a company is low on the risk-maturity level or has already integrated risk management into its corporate culture, the process developed in this thesis serves as a versatile tool that can help businesses structure a more dynamic, resilient supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2007.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-76). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40096 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38568 Future value chains in the computer hardware industry Roy, Shaunak, S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Companies in the computer hardware industry can benefit by incorporating future business scenarios in their present decision-making processes. Any decision regarding strategic supply chain design is one such area where long-range planning can especially help. This is primarily because investments in new supply chains have a long return period, which also influence the chances of future success of a company. However, developing such long-range views of the whole industry is a challenging task, because of inherent uncertainties of the future and rapid changes in the computer industry itself. This paper takes a step towards achieving this goal by introducing several frameworks for the development of future scenarios and their analysis. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program; and, (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-97). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38568 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36318 Inventory pre-positioning for humanitarian operations Akkihal, Anup Roop This research examines the impact of inventory pre-positioning on humanitarian operations. The study identifies optimal locations for warehousing non-consumable inventories required for initial deployment of aid. These facility location problems are geometric optimizations using mean annual homeless resulting from hazards (atmospheric disruptions, floods, waves, landslides, seismic disruptions, volcanoes and wildfires) as an indirect estimation of demand for infrastructure inventory. Minimization of per capita distance, or the average global distance from the nearest warehouse to a forecasted homeless person, is advanced as the objective. An array of formulations, solved using mixed-integer linear programs, predict optimal facility configurations, and corresponding per capita distances, under incremental facility constraints; thereby measuring sensitivity of mean distance to facility proliferation. The problems are devised to also gather insights into maximal covering and the effects of initial conditions.; (cont.) Moreover, demand patterns, along with correlated variables such as population and hazard frequency, offer views of regional vulnerability to natural disasters. The results also exhibit the absence of re-configuration, indicating that location decisions may not be impacted by the number of facilities planned. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36318 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36148 Order promising/fulfillment and customer/channel collaboration in supply chain management An, Yimin, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Srethapakdi, Samuel This research investigates the order promising and fulfillment and customer and channel collaboration functions of a company. In addition to presenting more precise definitions, we identify and analyze current and emerging innovative practices in these two functions implemented by leading companies across nine industries, namely aerospace, apparel, automobile, computer, consumer packaged goods, petroleum, pharmaceutical, retail, and telecommunication. Based on our analysis, we propose a framework for categorizing order promising/fulfillment and customer/channel collaboration business models and strategies as well as future trends. Significance of integration of these two functions is also analyzed. Finally, we present guidelines for companies to optimize their operations vis-à-vis Customer and Demand management and prepare themselves for business success as far as into the year 2020. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Vitae.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-115). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36148 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36147 Vendor managed inventory vs. order based fulfillment in a specialty chemical company Andritsos, Dimitrios; Craig, Anthony In this thesis, an analysis of the existing order based fulfillment process for one product line of a specialty chemicals manufacturer is made and the potential benefits from the implementation of a vendor managed inventory (VMI) system are quantified. A single facility is considered and our focus is on the possible reductions in transportation effort. Initially, a set of criteria are defined for classifying which storage tanks will be served under the VMI system and which under the existing order based process. Subsequently, a cluster first-route second approach is implemented, where customer locations are first separated into clusters based on geographical proximity and routes are then designed for each of the clusters. A mathematical model is constructed that aids in the design of delivery routes that minimize the total number of delivery trips. Finally, the total transportation effort that would be required for replenishing the VMI and non-VMI tanks is estimated and a comparison is made with the current system. Key performance indicators are compared between the existing order based fulfillment process and the potential VMI implementation. Limitations of the proposed approach are discussed and directions for future research are highlighted. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 59). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36147 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36146 RFID implementations : business process and technology lessons learned, recommendations and best practices for new adopters Chan, Rida; Ram, Sangeeth This thesis focuses on documenting learnings from a RFID data exchange pilot in the fast moving consumer goods industry. The pilot we studied is a collaborative effort between two of the largest retailers in the world and five of their major suppliers, facilitated by EPCglobal and the MIT Auto-ID labs. Currently, manufacturers and suppliers are building the infrastructure to exchange EPC data to validate standards and proof of concepts for RFID adoption. The outcome of these pilots will essentially set the stage for large scale RFID adoption worldwide. Our thesis attempts to document issues relating to data exchange from business process, organizational and technical perspectives. We have synthesized the findings and consolidated the lessons learned during the pilot in an attempt to form a set of actionable recommendations for new companies looking to start on RFID pilot projects. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; "June 2006."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-118). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36146 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36145 Inbound freight consolidation : a simulation model to evaluate consolidation rules Ford, Daniel J. (Daniel Jerome) In logistics, freight can be consolidated over time (temporally) or over space (spatially). This thesis presents a simulation model to evaluate temporal and spatial consolidation rules. The model is the result of a research project to analyze freight consolidation options for a large industrial company. The research project focused on the company's freight imported from China to the US, and the model presented in the thesis is structured to represent a typical import logistics network. The results section of the thesis presents a method for evaluating consolidation rules. The results recommend temporal consolidation of two weeks at the origin port and temporal consolidation of less than one week at the factory for the company's shipments from China to the US. This consolidation policy offers total network cost savings of 24% over the base case, an immediate ship policy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; "June 2006."; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 51). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36145 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36144 The impact of coordination and relationships in an outsourcing environment : the airline departure process Ingason, Tómas Complicated business processes, like the airline departure process, that involve multiple job functions and even multiple companies need high levels of cross-functional coordination for successful completion. A study of the airline departure process at four stations of Icelandair showed that relationships and communication do impact performance. High levels of relationships and communication can have a positive impact on both efficiency and quality of the flight departure process at the same time. The design of systems of coordination and control and the approach to outsourcing of job functions or processes can impact levels of relationships and communication. Product offering and strategic importance of individual stations should decide how relationships with 3rd party service providers are constructed. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 84). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36144 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36143 Analysis of sourcing & procurement practices : a cross industry framework Koliousis, Ioannis G This thesis presents and analyzes the various practices in the functional area of Sourcing and Procurement. The 21 firms that are studied operate in one of the following industries: Aerospace, Apparel/ Footwear, Automotive, Computers, Communications Equipment, Consumer Packaged Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Petroleum and Retail. Those firms have been chosen for their overall supply chain excellence and the research builds on empirical data from case studies, literature survey and interviews with industry experts. By assessing the empirical data and the various practices, a framework is proposed to address the different options that the firms can use relative to the organizational structure of the Procurement Department. These options are based on a combination of the importance of the inputs and the supplier/buyer power differential. Lastly, this thesis identifies the factors that affect these options. Key Words: Procurement, Sourcing, Organizational Architecture, Corporate Strategy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-161). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36143 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36142 Promotional forecasting in the grocery retail business Koottatep, Pakawkul; Li, Jinqian Predicting customer demand in the highly competitive grocery retail business has become extremely difficult, especially for promotional items. The difficulty in promotional forecasting has resulted from numerous internal and external factors that affect the demand patterns. It has also resulted from multiple levels of hierarchy that involve different groups in the organization as well as different methods and systems. Moreover, judgments from the forecasters are critical to the accuracy of the forecasts, while the value of tweaking the forecast results is yet to be determined. In this business, the forecasters generally have a high incentive to over-forecast in order to meet the corporate goal of maximizing customer satisfaction. The main objective of this thesis is to analyze the effectiveness of promotional forecasting, identify the factors contributing to forecast accuracy, and propose suggestions for improving forecasts. In light of this objective, we used WMPE and WMAPE as the measures of forecast accuracy, and conducted analysis of promotional forecast accuracy from different point of views.; (cont.) We also verified our results with regression analysis, which helped identify the significance of each forecasting attribute so as to support the promotion planning without compromising forecast accuracy. We suggest several approaches to improve forecast accuracy. First, to improve store forecasts, we recommend three models: the bias correction model, the adaptive bias correction model, and the regression model. Second, to improve replenishment forecasts, we propose a new model that combines the top-down and bottom-up approaches. Lastly, we suggest a framework for measuring accuracy that emphasizes the importance of comparing the accuracy of forecasts generated from systems and from judgments. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-85). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36142 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36141 Creating transportation policy in a network that utilizes both contract carriers and an internally managed fleet Mulqueen, Michael Jay A convergence of factors including a strong economy, changing demographics and increased regulatory control has resulted in a U.S. For-Hire Truckload (TL) industry that is increasingly pressed to meet shippers' needs for freight services. As demand now exceeds supply, the buyer/seller relationship has swung to favor TL providers who wield much more power than they have historically enjoyed. TL carriers are now able to negotiate higher rates, increase charges for providing additional services and decrease service levels as shippers are unable to find suitable replacement carriers. Many shippers have responded to these changing market dynamics by increasing the use of private and/or dedicated fleets within their distribution networks. This provides them with guaranteed capacity, increased leverage with carriers during rate negotiations and increased overall operational control of their networks. In this thesis, I will propose a methodology for the creation of a shipper's overall transportation policy in a distribution network that uses an internally managed fleet in conjunction with TL contract carriers.; (cont.) This approach constructs transportation policy in a manner that recognizes the differences in costing between an internally owned and managed fleet versus that of a contract TL carrier. It seeks to maximize savings by leveraging internal economies of scope through the assignment of fleet resources to closed loop tours. Additionally, the approach will go beyond the standard deterministic methods that are commonly employed in the creation of transportation policy. Instead, an iterative process that incorporates both optimization and simulation is proposed that ensures variability inherent within the network is taken into account when defining the best transportation policy for an organization. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-100). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36141 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36140 Supply and demand planning for crude oil procurement in refineries Nnadili, Beatrice N. (Beatrice Nne) The upstream petroleum supply chain is inefficient and uneconomical because of the independence of the four complex and fragmented functions which comprise it. Crude oil exploration, trading, transportation, and refining are functions which may be integrated through unified decision-making facilitated by timely information exchange. This exchange has been problematic because the four business units with their disparate activities have not been able to capture and appropriately structure the required information. How can business executives in the oil industry assemble all of the required information to achieve system-wide optimization? To remove the silos which impede system-wide optimization, there is need to analyze people, systems and issues in the upstream section of the petroleum supply chain; as a background to understanding the current challenges faced in achieving integration. Hence, the use of secondary and primary data sources was used for this research. The secondary includes the review of relevant literature while the primary data were from two sources. The first came from an on-site interview with the heads of business units of a case study, a company which is a major player in the industry.; (cont.) The second is from telephone interviews with industry experts which include software providers, consultants and other major players in the industry. The findings are that on-time information exchange will maximize shareholders' value and improve process efficiency in the supply chain. This process efficiency makes the upstream supply chain more responsive to possible changes in the environment that affects its operation. This will allow supply chain managers to achieve both a reduction in the variability in price of end product will be obtained while achieving stable profit margins. This research concludes by advocating that the use of information systems that accurately support data exchange among the functions in the supply chain in a timely, coordinated fashion with minimal distortion is required to ensure consistency in optimal decision making. To achieve this, change management is necessary because it requires a shift to a holistic approach in making decisions. Finally, areas recommended for future research are stated. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-72). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36140 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36139 Demand management : a cross-industry analysis of supply-demand planning Tan, Peng Kuan Globalization increases product variety and shortens product life cycles. These lead to an increase in demand uncertainty and variability. Outsourcing to low-cost countries increases supply lead-time and supply uncertainty and variability. Coupled with the increase of mergers and acquisitions, which increase supply chain complexity, and the unforgiving nature of having too little or too much inventory, these factors have accelerated the importance and adoption of the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process. S&OP is driven by a cross functional team, with the purpose of balancing supply and demand with the objective of maximizing a company's goals. It manages the supply and demand uncertainties, balances the different internal and external stakeholders' interests, and aligns the operations towards its strategy and vision. In support of the Supply Chain 2020 Project at MIT, this thesis focuses on analyzing the S&OP function across industries. Using the Phase I SC 2020 theses, literature, white papers, and interviews with industry experts, this thesis compares and contrasts the S&OP practices across nine industries.; (cont.) It examines their best practices and underlying principles, as well as the macro factors that have shaped the practices for the last ten to fifteen years, as well as what is expected in the future. Companies with the "best" S&OP processes collaborate internally to balance sales and operations, and align all internal stakeholders' interests. Furthermore, they collaborate externally with suppliers and customers to reduce supply and demand uncertainties. They also understand and manage demand and supply uncertainties, and align their effort towards their goals. These companies synchronize operations and are agile to changing environments. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-75). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36139 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35614 Analysis of supplier involvement in new product development and launch Kurapov, Herman Alex New or innovative products are growing in importance both in numbers and revenues, putting an extra stress on most current supply chains - defined conceptually as a buyer with a network of suppliers - as those were originally designed for efficiency purposes and existing products. While new products due to their characteristics, such as short life cycle, demand variability, and high investment risk, require responsive, flexible, adaptable supply chains and relevant practices. Those practices need to be properly tailored for specific different types of new products, perceived as a continuum of newness and change. This thesis examines supply chain management and supplier management practices for new products across different industries. This study has been conducted within the MIT Supply Chain 2020 Initiative using the academic and business literature research and an online survey as the methodology, and new product analytical framework as the study deliverable.; (cont.) The results of this study demonstrate that though there is a pronounced tendency to use suppliers more extensively to improve new product performance and general competitiveness, companies approach the supplier new product involvement very differently - depending on the type of new product in question and the specific mix of its key activity categories, which were identified in this study and corresponding framework as Flexibility, Control, Technology and Cost Focus. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-91). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35614 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35541 Choosing transportation alternatives for highly perishable goods Bourassa, P. Louis (Pierre Louis) The selection of a transportation alternative to ship perishable goods is dependent on several interconnected factors, the most important usually being speed of delivery. This study focuses on the distribution operation of Tyco Healthcare's (THC's) nuclear medicine group in the continental United States. It studies the system constraints, service requirements and costs involved in shipping highly perishable radiopharmaceuticals. The first stage of the study describes aspects of THC's radiopharmaceutical supply chain from order taking at the manufacturing plant to distribution of the prepared doses at the radiopharmacies. The second stage establishes the unit costs of shipping products to three sample regions via the four transportation alternatives currently used: ground courier, FedEx Express, commercial airline and chartered aircraft. The third and final stage of the study analyzes three hypothetical distribution scenarios. Its purpose was to challenge the restrictions and determine the opportunity cost of distributing the nuclear medicine under the current operating policies. Based on the results of all three stages, a set of cost savings recommendations is provided. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 85). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35541 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35540 Key performance indicators in humanitarian logistics Davidson, Anne Leslie Non-profit humanitarian relief organizations have typically been unable to measure the performance of their supply chains due to an inability to centrally capture data from operations. With the recent development and implementation of information technology systems that can support the logistics function of these organizations, the data is now available to measure performance, but what is still lacking is a central framework of metrics that measures performance according to the organization's strategic goals. First, this thesis reviews the best practices noted in performance measurement systems of the logistics functions in military and commercial organizations and applies them to the humanitarian sector. Second, the thesis suggests a framework of key performance indicators to be implemented in an international non-profit humanitarian organization based on the unique strategic goals of the sector. The thesis then applies this proposed framework to two actual operations performed by this organization.; (cont.) The analysis performed herein proves that a measurement system would help strengthen the organization's ability to deliver goods to beneficiaries more efficiently and effectively. Finally, the thesis addresses feasibility issues of implementing a measurement system in the non-profit sector and also describes the next steps of opportunities related to measurement systems within humanitarian logistics. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-87). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35540 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35539 A cross-industry analysis and framework of aftermarket products and services Englezos, Petros This thesis looks at how supply chains of Aftermarket Products and Services are structured. The study includes an overall examination of the Aftermarket Function, as well as an overview and examination of Aftermarket Supply Chains in four different industries. The study includes general data about the four industries (Computers, Telecommunications Equipment, Automotive and Aerospace), along with examination of practices that are used in these industries. Finally, the thesis compares and contrasts the practices used in the industries and identifies underlying principles that unifies these otherwise diverse practices. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-97). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35539 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35538 Inbound freight consolidation for US manufacturers at China Fang, Yi, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology In recent years, China has become the world factory for a sizable portion of products. Most manufacturing conglomerates in the United States now have contract manufacturing plants in China. Because many of these US companies have implemented a variety of inventory reduction approaches, they are now faced with the expensive transportation of large numbers of low-weight, small- quantity shipments in international inbound transportation, transportation that covers the flows of goods from contract manufacturers (CMs) in China to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the States. While there has been research on consolidation, little attention has been paid to international inbound freight consolidation, which provides a potential savings opportunity in international transportation by combining several small shipments into one large shipment. This paper examines how manufacturers in the United States can use freight consolidation in their international inbound transportation flow from CMs in China. It then explores a framework for designing inbound consolidation, focusing on how to implement inbound consolidation in the context of China's fast-evolving logistics industry. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Leaf 64 blank.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-63). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35538 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35537 Risk in agriculture : a study of crop yield distributions and crop insurance Gayam, Narsi Reddy Agriculture is a business fraught with risk. Crop production depends on climatic, geographical, biological, political, and economic factors, which introduce risks that are quantifiable given the appropriate mathematical and statistical methodologies. Accurate information about the nature of historical crop yields is an important modeling input that helps farmers, agribusinesses, and governmental bodies in managing risk and establishing the proper policies for such things as crop insurance. Explicitly or implicitly, nearly all farm decisions relate in some way to the expectation of crop yield. Historically, crop yields are assumed to be normally distributed for a statistical population and for a sample within a crop year. This thesis examines the assumption of normality of crop yields using data collected from India involving sugarcane and soybeans. The null hypothesis (crop yields are normally distributed) was tested using the Lilliefors method combined with intensive qualitative analysis of the data. Results show that in all cases considered in this thesis, crop yields are not normally distributed.; (cont.) This result has important implications for managing risk involving sugarcane and soybeans grown in India. The last section of this thesis examines the impact of crop yield non normality on various insurance programs, which typically assume that all crop yields are normally distributed and that the probability of crop failure can be calculated given available data. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35537 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35536 Tailored hospital supply chain for greater return on investment Jan, Paul Jenq-Haw The cost of healthcare has been increasing over the past several years. From 1997 to 2002, the average cost for hospital stays increased 24 percent. The increase in healthcare cost can be explained by malpractice law suits and also by the increase in the cost of medical supplies (26 percent increase from 2000 to 2002). Though the Automated Point of Use (APU) technology and the Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) are helping hospitals reduce supply chain costs, this research seeks to understand whether the inventory policy exists with the APU-VMI model is optimal. To achieve an understanding of the behavior under the APU-VMI model, this research seeks to investigate the inventory cost as well as the average order quantity and the deviation of the order quantity, and the replenishment frequency for before and after the introduction of the APU-VMI model. Through this, this research seeks to recommend the optimal inventory policies that hospitals should couple with the APU-VMI model. This combination should enable hospitals to reduce supply costs, and increase the returns on the investment made in implementing the APU-VMI model. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-97). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35536 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35535 Impact of product complexity on inventory levels See, Ying-Lai; Namkoong, Jin In this thesis we consider a manufacturing and distribution supply chain of a roll-based product whose width comes in 1-cm increments. We formulate a computer model subject to stochastic, inelastic demand to determine the relationship between width interval and finished goods inventory levels. Assuming that the supply chain operates with the same set of policies regardless of the width interval value, we illustrate that the value of risk pooling diminishes as the interval widens. Due to the presence of a counteracting effect, we also demonstrate that increasing the width interval does not always reduce the amount of inventory requirements. Lastly, we show that the supply chain can operate with lower inventory levels without compromising the service level by pushing the inventory down the chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-63). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35535 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35534 Supply chain automation and the effects on clinician satisfaction and patient care quality in the hospital setting Xie, Yue, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology The healthcare industry, more specifically hospitals, has in recent times been experiencing a steady rise in nursing shortages and cost pressures. To offset these problems hospitals have increasingly relied upon supply chain automation and the use of Automated Point of Use systems (APU) to relieve nurses of their supply management responsibilities and allow them to focus more of their time on patient care, and therefore increase nursing job satisfaction and patient care quality. However, previous studies on the effectiveness of APUs have shown mixed results. It has been argued that nursing's attitude towards automation implementations plays a role in determining the success of new technologies adoption. This research, based on interviews conducted at BBC hospital, a well regarded multi-specialty academically affiliated institution, and with the help of its supply chain partner Primera, shows that nursing's perceived success of BBC's APU implementation depends on four factors - the ability of the new technology to show timesaving, the availability of supplies when needed, the accessibility of supplies when needed, and the perceived quality of the products supplied.; (cont.) In sum, automation implementations must use workflow process changes to add tangible values that nursing perceives as helping nurses to perform their jobs better and with less stress. As for both the current BBC implementation and any future implementations, this study further recommends methods in achieving these values and therefore increasing nursing acceptance of new technology implementations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35534 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35533 Choosing transportation alternatives for highly perishable goods : a case study on nuclear medicine Yang, Xiaowen, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology The transport of highly perishable goods, in particular nuclear medicine, is subject to stringent regulations. Carefully designed transport selection criteria considering available alternatives, product attributes, decay analysis, and shipping constraints may reduce the total costs. This thesis recommends a new approach to making alternative selections, leading to total cost reductions. This project was conducted with three goals in mind in partnership with a Fortune 500 healthcare company. First, it serves to develop a deeper understanding of the transport of nuclear medicine. Second, it serves to analyze whether current decision making processes can be adjusted to lower the total cost. Third, it serves to improve transportation decisions about nuclear medicine. The results demonstrate that the current operation of the partner company can be improved by ceasing to over-estimate and over-compensate decay costs by using more high-rate alternatives than needed. By minimizing total costs, the company can reduce its transportation costs by 5-10%. Note also that minimizing transportation costs alone can achieve total cost reductions, similar to minimizing total costs, although both scenarios recommend different alternative selection mixes. The embedded reason is that decay costs and transportation costs cancel out each other. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56). Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35533 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34783 Public-private partnerships : security and emergency response collaboration in a new threat environment Disraelly, Deena S. (Deena Sara), 1974- September 11th, 2001 marks the worst terrorist action to occur on United States soil and opens a new period in history in which indiscriminate terrorist acts are possible, if not probable. Many of these possible acts, as well as the actions to prevent and recover, will have an impact on the supply chain and services in ways that we cannot yet understand. Previous research has focused on theft prevention and the disruptions such thefts might cause, and very little research on the supply chain impacts of September 11th exist. What is clear, however, is that as government agencies include the creation of public-private partnerships as well as the introduction of new technology, increasing inventory, and building system resilience, among others. Limited examples of public-private partnerships for security exist, however, there are several examples of partnerships for emergency response. Since both emergency response partnerships and security collaboratives share the same objective - to protect and secure the personnel, facilities, and supply chain - this thesis investigates emergency response, early detection, and propose new policies and regulations and the threat of international terrorism continues, corporate America needs to find a method for securing their operations. These methods may post-September 11th security examples to determine the key factors in establishing successful public-private partnerships. The learnings indicate collaborative partnerships and emergency response cooperatives are the most commonly used for promoting security and that motivation, cooperative goals, communication and trust are the most important factors to creating successful partnerships. Other factors vary by level of importance depending; (cont.) on the type of partnership. Public regulation requires private cooperation in order to succeed. Similarly, private sector security relies on public sector concurrence. The greater the recognized interdependence between the public and private sector, the more likely the partnership is to succeed. Recommendations include introductory steps to creating such partnerships, as well as proposed actions which both sectors should consider to ensure partnership success. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program; and, (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 218-225). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34783 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33729 Financial supply chain dynamics : operational risk management and RFID technologies Reddy, Harry, 1963- The banking industry is consolidating to streamline its operations through mergers and acquisitions, and is adopting new technologies to develop innovative products and services, thereby achieving both economies of scale and scope. Operational risk management has become a serious issue in the banking industry. Some reputed banks are either forced to close down their operations (eg., Citibank Private Bank in Japan) or faced cost overruns (eg., Barings Bank in England) due to poor operational risk management. In the supply chain industry, businesses are engaged in devising effective solutions using RFID technologies to locate and track the goods. We present the dynamics of banking industry in terms of operational risk management, innovation and business strategies. We also present the process mapping of RFID technology use in banking business areas to minimize operational risks. We further come-up with an effective operational risk management framework for banks to follow in improving their operational risk management. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-83). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33729 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33728 An analysis of international transportation network Chiu, Yu-Yen This thesis discusses a network design problem based on a case study with a footwear company, which intends to minimize total supply chain costs by establishing a distribution network which bypasses its primary distribution center (DC). Through the new network, called the DC bypass network, the company ships products directly from its Asian factories to a logistics hub at an entry port in the US and then on to customers, a particular group of chosen customers. We assess the project by comparing costs derived from a baseline and optimization model. A baseline model represents the company's existing logistics network while optimization models capture future supply chains with different scenarios. The models convert a real supply chain network into the relationships between nodes and links. Nodes indicate facilities while links refer to the flow of the product. In brief, this case study is about how a company evaluates its transportation network. Methods to determine a specific location or multiple locations for the DC bypass operations are discussed. Furthermore, the robustness of an optimal solution will be measured through a sensitivity analysis. Other benefits include the reduction of lead time is discussed in the further research. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 70). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33728 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33418 Design outsourcing in the high-tech industry and its impact on supply chain strategies Vakil, Bindiya The practice of outsourcing product design to a service provider is prevalent in fast-moving high-tech electronics. Product design affects all subsequent activities such as procurement, manufacturing, logistics and after-sales services. Thus, companies do design for supply chain (DFSC), which is the process of designing products by incorporating such supply chain considerations as supplier selection and integration, single vs. multi-sourcing, component commonality, postponement, variety management, product reuse and recycling, planned obsolescence, etc. Each of these strategies involves tradeoffs which become difficult to evaluate in an outsourced environment. The levels at which companies engage with their service provider such as fully outsourced or joint design, affect the degree of control they can exercise over the design process. The main finding is that when products are fully outsourced, companies have less control and therefore, a lower possibility of implementing DFSC. Certain measures are proposed whereby companies may influence DFSC implementation even in fully outsourced design. When some of the design is kept in-house in a joint design model, the level of control is high.; (cont.) Another important finding is that design service providers actually achieve excellence in incremental innovation and do implement DFSC strategies which have cost-saving and revenue-generating benefits for them. The distribution of the resultant savings is primarily a function of the company's ability to understand the service providers' cost structure and its negotiating power in the relationship. Two case-studies are included of products where different outsourcing levels are used and the impact of the level of outsourcing is studied for each supply chain strategy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-135). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33418 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33373 An exploration of supply chain management practices in the aerospace industry and in Rolls-Royce Tiwari, Mohit This thesis is a part of the Supply Chain 2020 research project which seeks to study best practices in supply chain management in multiple industries in order to develop a deeper understanding of key principles and practices characterizing the creation of excellent supply chains through a long-term research agenda. This thesis addresses the first phase of the research by concentrating on the aerospace industry and by focusing on Rolls-Royce through a case study. The objective of the thesis is to conduct an exploratory study of the best practices in supply chain management in the aircraft engine manufacturing industry, and how these practices impact the competitive positioning of an engine manufacturer within the industry. The analysis involves a broad review of the current state and future directions of the aerospace industry by tracing the key factors shaping its evolution and by identifying the major strategic forces that would influence its future. Within this general industry context, the thesis analyzes Rolls-Royce's position in the industry as a leading aircraft engine manufacturer and presents a focused study of Rolls-Royce's supply chain management practices.; (cont.) In particular, the thesis involves a deeper exploration of the aircraft engine manufacturing business segment of Rolls-Royce and strives to understand the company's supply chain management practices, by examining the role of major factors that have proven crucial to effective supply chain management within the company. The thesis also presents more specific case study examples that track the implementation and results of major supply chain management initiatives. Finally, the supply chain design and management practices are analyzed from the perspective of their role in the company's business strategy. This is accomplished by employing a number of business strategy frameworks to understand the key factors that determine the competitiveness of a tier one supplier in the aerospace industry, such as Rolls- Royce, and by examining how those factors have affected Rolls-Royce's supply chain management strategies and practices. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-96). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33373 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33372 Initial purchase of short-term life cycle products with uncertain demand Takenaga, Eugene T Targus, a consumer products distributor of laptop cases and accessories, lacks formal processes for deciding on initial purchases of short-term life cycle products with uncertain demand. This thesis reviews the current processes for the initial purchases and determines where the Company can reduce inventory risks related to the initial purchase. The research and analysis has three aspects: interviews of eight Targus managers was used to understand current initial purchases practice, a sample of initial purchase data was selected to analyze forecast errors and life cycle management, and the newsvendor problem was applied to the data sample to determine the optimal purchase which was then compared to Targus' purchases. It was found that Targus has a tendency to under-purchase items for the initial purchase and does not establish potential profitability of products prior to introduction. This thesis recommends the Company to incorporate a newsvendor approach as a basis to benchmark its initial purchases for the initial product introduction process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 57). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33372 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33356 VMI vs. order based fulfillment Shen, Victoria W In this thesis, two inventory fulfillment methods are compared by evaluating the vendor managed inventory (VMI) fulfillment against the current order based fulfillment. Several forms of adaptation to VMI are described. The costs and benefits of VMI are quantified. The difference between the current process and the proposed VMI process is measured by the monetary amount in total inventory storage, routing, management cost, and payment terms in one distribution center. A conclusion is drawn to determine whether VMI is a beneficial alternative to the current process, and possible future research is discussed. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33356 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33354 The pharmaceutical supply chain : a diagnosis of the state-of-the-art Singh, Mahender Pal, 1965- This study explores the current supply chain trends in the pharmaceutical industry. The main objective of the study is to characterize the pharmaceutical industry and identify excellent supply chain practices. Indeed, the pharmaceutical industry is not renowned for its supply chain management capabilities, unlike many other highly publicized industries that have profitably exploited their supply chains. It is, thus, an interesting topic for research. A closer look, however, reveals that our initial assessment of the industry is colored by the popular financial criteria prevalent among analysts and the investing public. This research will suggest that the pharmaceutical industry does care about its supply chain, although, a reevaluation of the supply chain strategy is necessary for addressing problems effectively. In fact, we will argue that an excellent supply chain is paramount to the pharmaceutical industry's success. We subscribe to the view that a supply chain should be considered excellent if it is able to effectively support a business strategy. The business objectives of the pharmaceutical industry include the need to ensure that the drugs are protected from adulteration and counterfeiting, removed and destroyed in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, and made available to patients at all time. Clearly, these are not commonly used metrics to assess the performance of a company or a supply chain.; (cont.) Instead, characteristics that have direct impact on the short term financial well being of the company, such as reduced lead times, increased flexibility, and lower cost are the ones that take precedence. As a result, there is a huge gap between the actual and perceived capabilities of the pharmaceutical supply chains. Furthermore, there are clear indications that a radical transformation of the pharmaceutical industry is on the horizon which will require further strengthening of its supply chains, rendering it even more critical to success. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-150). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33354 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33353 Mitigating container security risk using real-time monitoring with active Radio Frequency Identification and sensors Schlesinger, Adam Ian The global village in which we live enables increased trade and commerce across regions but also brings a complicated new set of challenges such as terrorist activity, human and drug smuggling and theft in foreign or domestic locations. Containers travel the globe, across all seven continents. In the wake of intensified security concerns since the September 11, 2001 attacks, tracking containers and their contents presents an increasing concern for those institutions and personnel charged with ensuring their security. This thesis analyzes the risks associated with global container transport. The concept of an e-container is set forth as a risk mitigation technology that uses real-time monitoring of a container's physical status acquired from an array of embedded RFID-enabled sensors. A framework is suggested that relates sensor-identified signatures and phenomena to behaviors representing breaches in container security. A theoretical model suggests which sensors are required to identify the individual breaches in order to mitigate container security risk. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-60). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33353 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33352 The humanitarian relief supply chain : analysis of the 2004 South East Asia earthquake and Tsunami Russell, Timothy Edward Humanitarian relief supply chains are not well documented. This thesis describes humanitarian relief supply chains in general and those specifically utilized in the 2004 South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami relief effort. A survey, created in collaboration with the Fritz Institute and KPMG, informed the analysis and establishes baseline data for a sector with little formal measurement. It was found that relief organizations share common problems regardless of size, focus, or structure. While the survey determined that relief delivery was effective, the findings illuminated deficiencies in the following areas: initial assessment, collaboration, trained logistics experts, and supply chain analysis. Finally, the thesis suggests plans to address these issues and future research. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-91). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33352 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33339 Creating value from uncertainty : a study of ocean transportation contracting Pálsson, Sigurjón How can financial tools like real options and hedging mitigate and create value from uncertainty in transportation? This paper describes these concepts and identifies research on them that has relevance to transportation. It then gives historical background of the containerized ocean transportation industry, uses Porter's five forces to explain its dynamics, and explains how contracts are set up and managed. It identifies areas within containerized ocean transportation that could benefit from real options and hedging, claiming that recent deregulation is creating opportunities for innovative thought. It gives examples of how real options are already being used in the industry to create flexibility without having any price attached to them and then comes up with new ideas of using them. It concludes by, first, stating that both shippers and carriers can benefit from managing uncertainty together and, second, suggesting future areas of research. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-83). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33339 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33333 Sterilization resource forecasting in the medical devices industry Arad, Ron, 1973- Sterilization is an example of a procedure that has been outsourced by medical device companies. Sterilization is required for all medical devices and the process used is based on product type. As demand for medical devices increases, production is ramping up, and the need for additional sterilization capacity increases. The time required to build more sterilization capacity can be between six to nine months, and therefore companies are looking into their future production to estimate when will be the right time to start building more capacity. This thesis analyzes the change in sterilization capacity utilization using a simulation model. The model replicates the current production distribution based on data provided from the sterilization facility. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 73). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33333 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33326 Integrating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) data with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) business processes Chen, Yan (Yan Henry), 1976- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, an important component in the enterprise IT infrastructure, must be integrated into the legacy IT system. This thesis studies how RFID technology can be integrated into the existing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) infrastructure, particularly how RFID can be used in the current EDI exchange process to accelerate the receiving process. After detailed review of current receiving process and relevant data specification, the author finds it possible to replace the current manual receiving process by RFID enabled automatic receiving and reconciliation process. A middleware is proposed to implement this approach. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-46). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33326 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33325 Enabling long term value added partnership in the healthcare industry Duarte Oliveira, Jorge Miguel dos Santos Fradinho The USA healthcare industry has recently undergone significant pressure to become competitive and think innovatively due to its increased growth as a percentage of the GDP, which was as much as 14. 1% in 2001. Additionally hospitals are faced with an estimated nursing shortage of 600,000 by 2020, and with an aging patient base that demands better quality at a lower cost. Specifically, hospitals tie up as much as 35% of their budgets in inventory and in the required labour to manage it. Moreover, future improvements will necessarily require a solution beyond statistically sound inventory policies and software packages. The contribution of this thesis is to provide an analysis of "Long Term Value Added Partnerships" and their role in enabling innovative and trust based vendor - hospital inventory supply relationships as a suggestive solution for the healthcare industry. The study included two hospitals leading the way in such relationships with a leading healthcare vendor in the USA market. The conducted literature review helps understand the benefits and implications of attempting to establish long term value added partnerships in the healthcare industry. From describing the pressures and the traditional mindset of hospitals towards inventory practices, the study moves on to explain two inventory management methodologies widely used across different industries, and it finally provides an account of the drivers and potential pitfalls of strategic alliances which are information intensive in nature.; (cont.) The research framework is followed by a detailed description of the methodology used while conducting field observations, 47 interviews and data analysis of the visited hospitals. Subsequently the research findings are presented and supported by graphical representations of both the soft and hard data collected. Finally the thesis conclusion is given in the form of a list of recommendations to be adopted by both healthcare vendors and hospitals. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-94). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33325 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33324 Supply chain strategies in the apparel industry : the case of Victoria's Secret Kumar, Sumit, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology This research provides an overview of the underlying dynamics, drivers, top players, supply chain structure and challenges facing the apparel industry. We present the case of Limited Brands Inc. and describe the positioning of the company within the apparel industry. We then address business processes critical to the success of the Victoria's Secret Business Unit of Limited Brands. This research draws extensively on interviews with company officials at Limited Brands that provided rich insight into a wide range of supply chain practices specific to the Victoria's Secret business. The success of Victoria's Secret can be attributed to a set of important supply chain activities, driven primarily by a collaborative intra-company effort. Insights gained from this research can also be leveraged to understand other industries such as consumer packaged goods, computers, and electronics industries which face similar supply chain issues. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-91). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33324 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33323 A proposal for inter-enterprise communication of RFID event data Locher, Maximilian Greer Inter-enterprise communication of RFID event data requires rules and consistency. To create those rules and consistency one has to understand the requirements for the event architecture. I identified fifty-one stakeholders and thirty touch points in a textile supply chain from manufacturer in China to retail in The United States. Each of the stakeholders has different requirements for accuracy of the read data. After calculating a rough estimate of data quantity, I reduced data by setting some standards for aggregation and creating a mathematical model for inference and communication of read accuracy. I discovered that by dividing data requirements into two types, summarized event data and detailed exception data and business forms, I could meet all the stakeholders' needs. The solution was to implement a hybrid publish/subscribe architecture and service oriented architecture. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Two leaves of folded plates inserted in pocket on p. [3] of cover.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-52). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33323 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33322 Can shippers and carriers benefit from more robust transportation planning methodologies? Harding, Matthew James The analysis of transportation contracts using optimization software may yield higher actual freight expenditures due to unplanned events during execution. This thesis explores new methods for developing robust transportation plans leading to lower total cost by developing a transportation plan minimizing unplanned events and quantifying a cost of service for use in existing optimization models. Robust transportation planning methodology requires the analysis of a variety of transactional related data, the application of analytical tools and performance measurement techniques. This thesis explores analytical techniques utilizing shipment, accept-reject, bid, and planning data. This analysis is then used to augment optimization software capabilities, develop simulation models and provide performance management frameworks by making assessments of shipper- carrier interactions as they occur within the design of an optimized plan. The results of this thesis include analysis and methods focused on quantification of carrier performance considering various classes of transactional data, bid data, and market data. Methods to determine the amount of additional freight expenditures as a result of the frequency and severity of unplanned freight are provided and supported with simulation output. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-122). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33322 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33321 A method for analyzing the delivery frequency from a distribution center to a retail grocery store Kerslake, Christopher Wayne Currently, no adequate method exists for determining how frequently a retail store in a supermarket chain should receive deliveries from its distribution center. Existing methods neglect many crucial constraints, such as the necessity for deliveries to fall on fixed days of the week, severely limited shelf space, and the inability for many stores to hold additional overstock product in a backroom. This paper addresses the problem by outlining a new method for determining the delivery frequency by developing a simulation model for the replenishment process of a supermarket chain. The model can also be used to provide insight into other aspects of the replenishment process, such as shelf space allocation, and reorder rules. Using this model, we were able to show that significant cost savings were available to the supermarket chain we worked with on the project by changing the delivery schedules for their stores. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-68). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33321 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33320 Benefits of postponement for fashion products with forecast updates Gong, Huiling This thesis examines the benefit of postponement of fashion products by considering the overage cost of the intermediate product and the correlation between the demand for each end products produced from it. The benefit of postponement is measured by the percentage increase in maximum expected profit after demand is realized. the production process is modelled as a two stage newsvendor problem and the forecast update path follows an additive martingale. An optimal solution and a myopic solution are proposed to solve this problem. Numerical results indicate that the benefit of postponement decreases with the overage cost of the intermediate product and the correlation between demand for each end products. It becomes less sensitive to the overage cost of the intermediate product when end products are more negatively correlated. It is also less sensitive to the demand correlation between end products when the overage cost of the intermediate product is low. In addition, the benefit of postponement is sensitive to the additional unit costs introduced by postponement. A case study to NFL Jerseys purchase planning indicates that an increase of unit cost by 10% can reduce the benefit of postponement by over 50%. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-69). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33320 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33319 Designing a flexible supply chain for new product launch Ha, Wei-Kwan Benjamin This thesis examines how companies tactically design flexible supply chains for new product launches. The research focus is on different strategies and tactics used by original equipment manufacturers to improve supply chain flexibility through their engagement with contract manufacturers. Five case studies regarding successful product launches were documented and analyzed, and the successful strategies and tactics were then categorized according to the characteristics of the situation. Finally, the findings from the analysis were applied to a startup company to develop its contract manufacturing engagement plan. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33319 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33318 The Radio Frequency Identification enabled logistics process for supply chain event management from China to the United States via Hong Kong Han, Taehee This thesis reviews the current logistics processes and issues for container shipments in the supply chain. In particular, the problems associated with container shipments from China to the US, via the Hong Kong Port, includes low end-to-end visibility, security concerns, low product- handling productivity, and unmanageable unexpected events. Research was conducted using results from both interviews and surveys to collect information about the current process. This thesis also proposes the use of RFID-enabled logistics to improve the current processes and discusses the impact and value of the RFID-enabled processes. The research results show that through RFID technology, collaborators in the supply chain can improve product-handling productivity, supply chain visibility, and product security. Furthermore, the RFID application for supply chain management can increase the use of direct shipment and cross-docking, which result in considerable cost savings to both a manufacturer and a retailer. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-66). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33318 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33317 Differentiating the hospital supply chain for enhanced performance DeScioli, Derek T This thesis determines how to design the supply chain policies in a hospital for the wide array of products that exist there. This research was done through interviewing staff and analyzing data of two hospitals implementing automated point of use systems. This thesis argues that a hospital needs to implement more than one supply chain policy in order to achieve its objective of maximizing patient care while avoiding prohibitive costs. The research further proposes that a hospital should develop its supply chain for a specific product based on that product's unit cost, demand, variability, physical size, and criticality. The research analyzes demand data from two hospitals and demonstrates that hospital demand can be modeled using a variation of Croston's method for intermittent demand. This fact was used to generate an appropriate s, Q inventory policy that can be adjusted to fit any product and supply chain policy implemented within the hospital. Under simulation, the proposed inventory policy outperformed existing policies by over 50%. This research further argues current aggregate and "one-size-fits-all" strategies are inappropriate in a hospital and discusses the importance for hospitals to add physical size and criticality attributes to their product master files as these will enable further supply chain enhancements. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-52). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33317 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33316 Supply chain risk management : (redefining the audit function within a large industrial company) Fike, Randy L. (Randy Lynn) As supply chains become more sophisticated, difficulties with their operation can become more complex as well. An organization must ensure the flow of goods and services end- to-end across the supply chain at the promised level and at the anticipated cost. This thesis describes the redesign and centralization of the supply chain operating model of a large industrial company, and suggests a structure capable of mitigating supply chain risk subsequent to the change. The appropriate organizational framework suggested for ensuring an uninterrupted flow of goods and services through the supply chain is the company's internal audit department. A redefinition of the audit department is explored, with the transformation of the audit role suggested to take the form of a process design centered on the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model of Plan, Source, Make and Deliver. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-74). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33316 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33315 An examination of Boeing's supply chain management practices within the context of the global aerospace industry Çizmeci, DaÄ lar This thesis examines the supply chain management practices of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company within the context of the global aerospace industry. The methodology used for this study includes a study of emerging supply chain management concepts and practices in the aerospace industry based on a review of the open literature, research performed on aerospace supply chain management issues by MIT's Lean Aerospace Initiative, and selected interviews with aerospace industry experts. The results show that there are significant changes in supply chain management practices in the aerospace industry. These changes include restructuring and closer integration of supplier networks to achieve efficiency gains, delegating greater design and production responsibility to major suppliers through strategic supplier partnerships along with having key suppliers evolve greater system and subsystem integration capabilities, emphasizing a lifecycle view supply chain design and management to reduce lifecycle cost of products and systems, and building supply chain capabilities supporting maintenance and aftermarket logistics services as a major new strategic thrust to provide improved customer satisfaction and retain long-term customer loyalty. The thesis focuses on Boeing's supply chain management practices through a case study to explore these developments in a more concrete enterprise context. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-80). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33315 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33314 An analysis of current supply chain best practices in the retail industry with case studies of Wal-Mart and Amazon.com Chiles, Colby Ronald; Dau, Marguarette Thi In support of the Supply Chain 2020 Project at MIT, this thesis identifies current best practices in retail industry supply chains, with a specific focus on mass merchandising and Internet retailing. Using a survey of current literature for context and industry expert interviews, this thesis assesses the current state of the retail industry and analyzes case studies of Wal-Mart and Amazon.com to illustrate retail supply chain best practices. Topics covered in each case study include supply chain strategy and business strategy linkage, operating models, supply chain design, replenishment and distribution processes, and ongoing supply chain improvement initiatives. Wal-Mart and Amazon.com are found to have very different supply chains in terms of structure and processes, based on their different operating models. However, there are many supply chain themes that are common among the two companies. Both case study companies have supply chain strategies, designs, and processes that clearly support their business strategies. Additionally, these companies tailor processes to fit specific product and demand profiles, collaborate extensively with supply chain partners, invest significantly in information technology, focus on operational efficiency, and leverage scale to facilitate competitive advantage through supply chain management. Based on the common and unique aspects of Wal- Mart and Amazon.com's supply chains, we provide recommendations for the potential transferability of Wal-Mart and Amazon.com practices within the retail industry and to other industries. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 184-188). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33314 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33313 Quantifying and managing the risk of information security breaches participants in a supply chain Bellefeuille, Cynthia Lynn Technical integration between companies can result in an increased risk of information security breaches. This thesis proposes a methodology for quantifying information security risk to a supply chain participant. Given a system responsible for supply chain interaction and the vulnerabilities attributed to the system, the variables that determine the probability and severity of security incidents were used to create a model to quantify the risk within three hypothetical information systems. The probability of an incident occurring was determined by rating the availability and ease of performing an exploit, the attractiveness of the target and an estimate of the frequency of the attack occurring Internet wide. In assigning a monetary value to the incident, the outcome from an attack was considered in terms of the direct impact on the business process and the potential impact on partnerships. A method for determining mitigation strategies was then proposed based on a given set of monetary constraints and the realization of corporate security policy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 70). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33313 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33312 The dynamics of supply chains in the automotive industry Braese, Niklas This thesis looks at how supply chains in the automotive industry operate from the perspective of the manufacturers. The study includes the industry structure, the top players in the industry, factors that drive the industry, and supply chain challenges for companies in the industry. It was found that consideration to the just-in-time production system takes precedence in business decisions, and the build-to-order model still needs work in terms of lead time reductions. The thesis includes a case study of General Motors and how key business processes support one of their supply chains.. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33312 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33311 The dynamics of the China logistics industry Cen, Xuepin As required by the WTO accession, China is opening its logistics industry to international logistics companies. What are these companies' strategies in the China market, and how are Chinese domestic logistics companies responding? The author interviewed four executives in charge of China business from three major international logistics companies and one international logistics user, and surveyed the literature to track the investments and plans of international and Chinese logistics companies. The thesis analyzes the strategies of third-party logistics (3PL) providers in the China logistic industry, namely international companies, and Chinese state-owned and Chinese private companies. The research finds that network expansion is the main strategy for the international companies, and the tendency is to operate independently. Infrastructure and extensive network are the state-owned companies' main assets, and niche market expertise is the private companies' strategy to survive and compete in the China logistics industry. These three types of players will coexist in the short term in China, while in the long term, when the international logistics companies have set up their infrastructure and network, there will probably a new round of shuffling. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-81). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33311 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33310 Reducing inventory by simplifying forecasting and using point of sale data Agarwal, Atul; Holt, Gregory Douglas Barton This thesis assesses the value to vendors of using point of sale data to predict what retailers will order from them. In particular, we look at how The Gillette Company can use point of sale data generated by two of their customers, (Wal-Mart and Target), to predict the orders of all of Gillette's customers combined. The thesis also examines the impact on forecasts of shortening and simplifying the demand planning process. By improving the forecast of orders from their customers, vendors like Gillette can reduce safety stock inventory which is held as protection against unpredictable demand. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 69). Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33310 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29534 An economic cost benefit analysis of internal and external warehouses in food retail industry Mehrotra, Vikas, 1975- In today's supermarket world, consumers apart from demanding 'higher and higher quality at lower and lower prices', want more and more product choices. This has put tremendous pressure on supermarkets and their infrastructure. With better information technology, forecasting techniques, planning tools, demand fulfillment and supplier relationships supermarkets can meet the rising demand much better than ever before. But inorder to meet this demand at the lowest price they need to rethink their inbound logistics and re-optimize their warehouses. This has spurred a growth in warehousing outsourcing. The study is concerned with evaluating the cost benefit between the internal and the external warehousing for the food retail industry, while addressing the following issues: 1. Advantages and disadvantages of an internal and external warehouse. 2. Importance of alignment of logistics strategy and corporate strategy. 3. Vendor items which should be outsourced or insourced The study was conducted by evaluating the economic value for fifteen different vendors of a regional supermarket chain with the objective to help the supermarket chain reassess its warehousing strategy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Paged continuously. Each page no. is preceded by a chapter no.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-89). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29534 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29533 Supply chain dynamics Barbosa, Ricardo Wagner Lopes, 1976-; Fan, Edward, 1973- The strong bargaining power of major retailers and the higher requirements for speed, service excellence and customization have significantly contributed to transform the Supply Chain Management. These increasing challenges call for an integrated and dynamic Supply Chain Management and for a better integration and alignment with key customers, in order to reduce the firm's time-to-market and build competitive advantage. The thesis aims at providing the partner company, a major player in the consumer goods industry, with a more robust and efficient vendor managed inventory practice, so that the partner can determine the optimum inventory level to satisfy turnover, service level and lead time requirements, whereas minimizing lost sales and total costs in the system. The team developed a Supply Chain Dynamics framework to help the partner to establish new service level strategies, strongly oriented to the strategic importance of its products and customers, and to map the key system-wide drivers that impact the overall number of inventory turns, service level and total costs. Additionally, in order to run simulations and estimate the outcomes of the proposed recommendations, the team developed a "Multi-Echelon" simulator and used a commercial "Supply Chain Dynamics" simulator. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-123). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29533 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29532 Optimal location of cross-docking centers for a distribution network in Argentina Dobrusky, Fernando G. (Fernando Gabriel), 1971- The objective of this thesis is to define an optimal distribution network for Argentina using Cross Docking Centers. The products to be delivered are in a Central Warehouse in Buenos Aires, the main city and port of Argentina. These products have to be distributed to hundreds of locations in the interior of the country. These locations have lower levels of demand and are at great distance from Buenos Aires. In order to achieve efficient distribution, cross docking centers and a third party carrier distribution are utilized. To find the optimal number, size and location of cross docking centers and which cross docking center or carrier should supply each location, two models are developed. The first model is a location-allocation model in which capacities of the cross docking centers are not considered constraining. In this case, the model is complemented by a heuristic approach that is used to find a near-optimal feasible solution. The second model, a capacited location model, is more complex, taking into account the demands of each location and defining the optimal location of cross docking centers and their respective capacities. Both models are analyzed with the data representing the distribution of pharmaceutical products in Argentina in 1999. The models' solution generates savings of 5%, compared to the current network that was designed based on intuition and other external factors, without the use of an optimization tool. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 81). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29532 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29531 Evaluation of bulk and packaged distribution strategies in a specialty chemical company Hernández López, José Joaquín, 1974- A logistics cost model is developed for a chemical distribution system from a single plant using bulk and packaged transportation strategies. The purpose of this research is to provide a tool that helps understand the cost trade offs in the operation of a logistics system at a strategic level for large scale systems and complex distribution systems. An analytical modeling approach was used to determine variables that define transportation, storage and material handling costs in the system. Several distribution strategies were evaluated and benchmarked in terms of costs against the current. Savings offered by the packaged distribution system for a single plant were marginal; extension of the current model to evaluate cost reduction opportunities across the complete network of plants and distribution centers is proposed for further research effort. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; "June 2003."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-100). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29531 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29530 Flexibility in transportation procurement : a real options approach Zhelev, Georgi Zhelev, 1975- Shippers who use for-hire carriers need a careful estimation of their need for trucking capacity in order to be able to haul products in a timely and cost-effective manner. This thesis outlines a flexible approach to transportation procurement. According to the proposed method, a shipper makes a firm commitment to a carrier to use a guaranteed level of capacity and agrees to pay a penalty for any unutilized equipment. In exchange, the carrier provides the shipper with an option to fulfill the shipper's request for additional capacity above the guaranteed level and up to a predermined limit if needed. The analysis focuses on actual data from a shipper and explores a "what if' scenario--whether it would have been possible to achieve savings and generate value by having such a flexible contract. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29530 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29529 Modeling hydrogen fuel distribution infrastructure Pulido, Jon R. (Jon Ramon), 1974- This thesis' fundamental research question is to evaluate the structure of the hydrogen production, distribution, and dispensing infrastructure under various scenarios and to discover if any trends become apparent after sensitivity analysis. After reviewing the literature regarding the production, distribution, and dispensing of hydrogen fuel, a hybrid product pathway and network flow model is created and solved. In the literature review, an extensive analysis is performed of the forthcoming findings of the National Academy of Engineering Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES). Additional considerations from operations research literature and general supply chain theory are applied to the problem under consideration. The second section develops a general model for understanding hydrogen production, distribution, and dispensing systems based on the findings of the BEES committee. The second chapter also frames the analysis that the thesis will review using the model. In the problem formulation chapter, the details of the analytic model at examined at length and heuristics solution methods are proposed. Three heuristic methodologies are described and implemented. An in-depth discussion of the final model solution method is described. In the fourth chapter, the model uses the state of California as a test case for hydrogen consumption in order to generate preliminary results for the model The results of the MIP solutions for certain market penetration scenarios and the heuristic solutions for each scenario are shown and sensitivity analysis is performed. The final chapter summarizes the results of the model, compares the performance of heuristics, and indicates further areas for research, both in terms of developing strong lower bounds; (cont.) for the heuristics, better optimization techniques, and expanded models for consideration. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-73). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29529 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29528 Third party logistics : an analysis of the feasibility and contexts of strategic relationships Ranjan, Madhu, 1972-; Tonui, Richard, 1975- An important topic in the Third Party Logistics (3PL) industry is the extent to which customers view 3PL services as pure-commodities to be re-bid. The trend towards commoditization has been one of the causes for current pricing pressures on the 3PLs. The 3PLs gearing towards "strategic partnerships" and the addition of Value-Added Services to their portfolio could decelerate the trend towards commoditization and could also otherwise differentiate them from their competitors. This study investigates the categories of relationships that 3PLs have and specifically the presence of strategic relationships in the 3PL industry. The study also examines the contexts in which they exist and highlights the factors that have contributed to the formation of the strategic relationships. The study concludes by proposing steps that 3PLs can take to better position themselves as candidates for strategic relationships. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-68). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29528 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29527 RFID : ROI opportunities after the sunk cost Simeonov, Teodor D., 1977- Currently many alternative options exist to satisfy the RFID mandate by Wal-Mart--tag cases at the exit doors, tag all cases at the supplier's warehouse docks, tag a certain section of the warehouse, etc. The big question is how to prevent Wal-Mart suppliers from treating the cost of EPC standard-adoption from just becoming another one of those nagging costs of doing business with Wal-Mart and how the cost of RFID adoption can be leveraged to differentiate the company's products and service levels from that of the non-RFID-adopting/non-RFID-cost-incurring competition. In addition, it is worth exploring how can all of that translate into long-term comparative advantage for a consumer electronics manufacturer. By examining the different scenarios for a Consumer Electronics Manufacturer (CEM) supplier of Wal-Mart that will be RFID tagging small ticket items on a case level, this study proposes an ROI/ROA framework within which investments in RFID can be evaluated and validates through a simulated financial model that positive value exists for early adopters of RFID technology. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 63). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29527 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29526 An analysis of physical object information flow within Auto-ID infrastructure Inaba, Tatsuya, 1967- The application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been studied for decades, and many field trials have been executed to evaluate the usability of RFID systems, the business case of RFID applications and so forth. One of the trial fields is its application to supply chain management (SCM) because the RFID technologies are thought to improve visibility of physical objects dramatically. Through this trial phase, benefits and feasibility of RFID have been confirmed, and as a result, major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Metro, have decided to implement RFID. At the same time, these trials reveal the necessity of RFID standards. Among these newly developed RFID standards, Auto-ID standard, which was originally developed by Auto-ID Center, is a strong candidate to be a de-facto standard. Auto-ID technologies consist of data standards and software architecture components. Data standards also consist of two components: Electronic Product Code (EPC) and Physical Markup Language (PML). On the other hand, software architecture components consist of four components: readers, Savant, EPC Information Server (EPC-IS), and Object Name Service (ONS). EPC-IS. which defines the interface of the servers that store physical object information, plays a key role in realizing business processes that the RFID technologies are expected to realize. In this thesis, we propose architecture of EPC-IS by defining the requirements for EPC-IS through generic business processes executed in Auto-ID infrastructure. The architecture we propose is not a monolithic message schema but three simple message schemas with vocabulary sets that are separately defined in dictionaries. By taking this structure, we achieve robust and scalable interface. We also evaluate; our proposal by applying it to the problems found in the RFID trials and possible future business processes. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-71). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29526 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29525 Application of real options to reverse logistics process Kaga, Akihiro, 1975- In this thesis, real options are used to identify the optimal model for the reverse logistics process of a technology company in the circuit board business. Currently, customers return defective boards and the company repairs the boards and sends them back. Now that the new product cost is falling below the level of the repair cost, the company is considering an alternative operational model, which is to scrap the returned boards and swap them with new products. As the product cost declines, it is also widely fluctuating, and it is this fluctuation that makes the switching option between the repair and swap model valuable. The repair and swap models (with and without switching options) will each produce different cost saving amounts with different degrees of risk. As a result of real options analysis, the swap model with the switching option to repair is determined to be optimal and has only modest risk. Specifically, the costs would be reduced by $1.3 million (of which $0.9 million is the option value) and by 18% compared to the costs under the current model, and the volatility will only moderately increase from 8% to 11%. However, it should be noted that the model is sensitive to both volatility and switching cost. Unlike the traditional methodologies, such as optimization or discounted cash flow analysis, real options quantifies the option value as well as the risk and hence shows the maximum investment necessary to obtain the option. That being said, in this thesis, optimization (the news vendor approach), simulation (Monte Carlo simulation), and discounted cash flow analysis take complementary roles to real options analysis. The option value is significant when the key uncertainties (e.g., the product cost, repair cost, and volume) are volatile; (cont.) because the option allows businesses to capture upside opportunities while protecting them from downside risks. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-106). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29525 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29524 The value of RFID in transportation : from greater operational efficiency to collaborative transportation management Guitton, Antoine, 1963- This paper assesses the value of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the transportation forecasting, planning, and execution processes for truckload (TL) and less than truckload (LTL) services. The results show that the value of RFID in transportation highly varies according to the sub-process and the player which are considered. The value in forecasting and planning is high for consignees and TL carriers, but low for shippers. For the execution process, the value is high for consignees, moderate for shippers, low for TL carriers and potentially high for LTL carriers. Fundamentally, the common value that RFID can bring to each player is labor cost reduction, obtained by automation of dock and clerical activities, and better service in tracking and reconciling, thanks to accurate and up-to-date information. The potential for dramatic improvement in transportation through RFID exists. Achieving such improvement will be possible only if information sharing rules, such as those espoused by Collaborative Transportation Management (CTM), and well formalized procedures are implemented. RFID can give to CTM invaluable "raw material", while CTM can enable the transportation players to fully take advantage of this material. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-115). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29524 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29523 Planning coordinated loads to facilitate centralized dispatching in the grocery industry Archambault, Nancy June, 1980- As economies grow and companies seek increasing market shares, they must also build the infrastructure within their organization to support that growth. In the grocery business in particular, there are many challenges associated with fleet management and the opportunity to centrally manage the entire fleet is viewed as a cost and time-savings opportunity. This project was conducted in partnership with a grocery retailer with the goal of examining several elements of the companies transportation system and processes with two goals in mind. The first goal was to look for opportunities to reduce cost, total miles traveled, and total empty miles traveled by the fleet. The second goal was to examine current processes and start to determine what changes or approaches should be recommended in pursuit of a central dispatching function to coordinate all movements within the transportation network. For this particular retailer, several areas were identified as potential stepping stones in its plan to begin a central dispatching operation. These areas of opportunity include using third party carriers for store deliveries, planning routes to increase the level of coordination between inbound and outbound transportation, and using the retailer's private fleet to provide carrier service for other shippers. Analysis projected that using third party carriers for outbound store deliveries could save the organization a significant sum of money, more than 1% of annual freight costs. Overall, there are many opportunities to take advantage of network characteristics to improve overall efficiency, reducing total cost and total empty miles traveled; they are discussed in detail. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29523 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29522 The impact of intelligent transportation systems on supply chain management Beinhaker, Ross, 1978- Businesses are constantly searching for ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. This is a fact of life in a world where shareholder value drives corporate actions. In order to become more profitable, these businesses develop new processes and techniques to create efficiency. This paper is focused on one particular new technology that can be used to increase corporate profitability--intelligent transportation systems. The primary research objective of this thesis is to determine the impact that differing levels of information can have on transportation practices, and therefore, in turn on corporate profitability. This information is collected, analyzed, and disseminated through the use of intelligent transportation systems. The end result of this work is a quantification of this impact and conclusions related to which informational practices should be implemented into the supply chain. An experimental setup is designed that uses the Los Angeles Highway System as a test-bed. Traffic data is collected on this network over a two-week period. This data is used as the foundation to perform a series of simulations using differing levels of information. Each of these information levels is compared to a baseline to yield a % time savings. Next, a sensitivity analysis is performed by introducing a random error term which is normally distributed with mean zero and a specified standard deviation. The author concludes that there appears to be a fairly consistent trend in the way differing levels of information provide value. Progressing up the information spectrum, it appears that more and more value can be extracted in the form of time savings over the baseline. A monetary framework is examined which translates the time savings derived in the simulations into financial; (cont.) performance. It is shown that a regional carrier with a modest fleet size is able to add millions of dollars per year in operating profit by using the highest levels of information in its supply chain practices. After the implementation costs are incorporated into the analysis, the savings from ITS have the potential to unlock significant value for a company. The author recommends that supply chain professionals incorporate intelligent transportation systems into their operations. All in all, the author believes that the pre-trip, predictive information level is likely to offer the most benefit to corporations at a reasonable cost for the near-term if an accurate forecast can be made. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-195). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29522 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29521 A framework for business process integration to achieve fulfillment excellence Buelvas, Marcos, 1976-; Lontoh, Sonita, 1975- Process integration has become more and more important in today's world where companies' supply chains have become more complex. Companies around the world are beginning to realize the importance of integrating their supply chain business processes to achieve fulfillment excellence. Unfortunately, process integration is still somewhat a novel concept and relatively little research has been conducted in examining how companies can effectively implement successful process integration across their supply chains. To complicate matters further, many companies still confuse the concept of business process integration with that of mere data integration. The primary motivation for this research study is to provide a framework on how best to implement process integration to achieve fulfillment excellence. The methodology employed in this particular study comprises the use of two case studies with real-life companies, which provide real-world examples of how companies try to "integrate" their complex supply chain processes. A deep and thorough analysis is then conducted to identify the challenges presented by the firm's current practices from a business process integration perspective. Further analysis then provides an overall view of what is done right and what could have been improved. Last but not least, a generalized framework of best practices and a prescription of how best to implement successful process integration to achieve fulfillment excellence are presented. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29521 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29520 Development of a comprehensive supply chain performance measurement system : a case study in the grocery retail industry Chou, Chih-Fen, 1976- While companies are looking for a single solution or a set of metrics that they can apply to measure their supply chain performance, it is clear that such a single solution does not exist. An effective supply chain performance measurement system has to align with a company's own supply chain processes. This thesis, based on the research of several established performance measurement models including the Balanced Scorecard and the SCOR Model, provides a framework for companies to build their supply chain performance measurement systems in-house. This thesis recommends a roadmap consisting of eight steps for companies to follow in the design and implementation phases of establishing a supply chain measurement system. The result is a set of 21 performance metrics is proposed that can be used by a company in the grocery retail industry to measure the efficiency of its supply chain. This metric set is well balanced because it encompasses six different criteria: comprehensive, causally oriented, vertically integrated, horizontally integrated, internally comparable, and useful. In conclusion, it is critical for companies from different industries to custom-tailor their own set of performance metrics, based on a careful evaluation of their individual business processes and supply chain performance objectives, that will allow management to do a better job utilizing existing capital resources and planning for strategic change and business development. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-88). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29520 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28580 An exploratory study of B2B marketplaces Minier, Denise Nicole, 1971- A business-to-business (B2B) e-marketplace brings together buyers and sellers using the Internet to conduct or facilitate business transactions. They came onto the scene in the late 1990's. There are independent exchanges, those formed by industry consortia, and private exchanges which are formed for the exclusive use of the single owner and its suppliers and customers. E-marketplaces support nearly all major types of B2B transactions, such as sales via catalogs, contracts, auctions, procurement via reverse auctions and RFQ's (request for quotes), and trading via exchanges. At the height of the dot-com boom, there were approximately 2,500 B2B exchanges worldwide. There was tremendous hype and expectations surrounding them. They were to revolutionize the way companies do business and fundamentally transform industries and the global economy. But the B2B e-marketplace has experienced a shakeout, and most have merged, closed down, or been converted to software vendors. Only about 1,000 are still operating, and this number will likely decline further. Even so, there are still great benefits to be had in the B2B exchange arena. B2B digital marketplaces reduce transaction costs by automating purchasing and sales processes. They reduce information inefficiencies by making prices more transparent and aggregating relevant real-time industry news into one easily accessible place, and they diminish geographic limitations. This research examines the different types and strategies of B2B marketplaces, the rise and fall of exchanges, examples of successful marketplaces, and future trends in the area. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-53). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28580 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28579 Strategies for maximizing supply chain resilience : learning from the past to prepare for the future Pickett, Christopher B. (Christopher Bruce), 1975- The terrorist attacks undertaken by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda organization on the morning of September 11, 2001 ushered in a new era of indiscriminate global terrorism characterized by an unprecedented focus on security, risk management, and business continuity. The probability of future attacks, coupled with government response to the threat, has introduced myriad new challenges that virtually every manufacturer, distributor, and retailer engaged in global commerce must now face. This thesis will explore and analyze the impact that the "new" terrorist threat has, and will continue to have, on the supply chains of those manufacturers, distributors, and retailers by studying relevant historical disruptions; in essence, looking to the past to glean important insights as to how enterprises can best prepare for the future. Throughout history, numerous disruptive events have occurred that bear comparison to a potential terrorist attack. These events include earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, and labor strikes, as well as other terrorist attacks. By studying such events in detail and understanding the impact that they had on the supply chains of companies that were affected, important lessons can be learned regarding how best to prepare for, and react to, future disruptions. This thesis project ultimately seeks to collect, analyze, and synthesize historical data with the goal of presenting insights and conclusions that can be applied by businesses in the current operating environment to best prepare their supply chains for future disruptions, whether natural or man-made. All research results are organized and presented in terms of the nature of the specific supply chain disruption (key supplier down, transportation capability disrupted, etc.); (cont.), as opposed to the nature, location, or other defining characteristics of the disaster itself. Conclusions consist of a discussion of the unifying themes and the relevant lessons learned. The thesis then goes on to recommend ten prescriptive measures that organizations can take in today's business environment to strengthen their supply chains, minimize their exposure to future disruptions, and maximize their operational resilience. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Also issued in leaves.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-120). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28579 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28578 Bidder response to combinatorial auctions in truckload procurement Plummer Clinton Lee, 1980- This thesis explores how truckload carriers use conditional bids within the framework of a combinatorial auction to win more business and balance their existing networks. Because a considerable portion of a truckload carrier's cost of serving a given lane is associated with the probability of finding a follow-on load (i.e. economies of scope), bidding on a lane-by-lane basis may not accurately reflect a carrier's true cost of serving that lane. In a combinatorial auction, a truckload carrier can more accurately reflect its true cost of serving a given lane by offering package discounts, conditional on winning lanes that increase the probability of finding follow-on loads. Though a considerable amount has been written about the economics of truckload carrier's operations and the benefits of combinatorial auctions to shippers, few have studied conditional bidding from a bidder's (carrier's) perspective. This thesis makes three contributions. First, an explanation of why bidders do and don't submit conditional bids in combinatorial auctions is provided. Second, a model of carrier costs functions, including package discounts (a measure of economies of scope) is developed. Finally, this thesis examines regional pricing differences, and quantifies the amount by which carriers will change their prices in different regions of the US. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; "June 2003."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-63). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28578 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28577 Coordinating the multi-retailer, single supplier procurement processes for a seasonal product with supply contracts Prisby, Craig K. (Craig Kanoa), 1971- Supply contracts are used to maximize profits in a supply chain by coordinating order quantities between the suppliers and retailers. In traditional supply contracts, retailers use a newsvendor approach to maximize their profits, while the supplier's profits increase linearly as a function of the number of units supplied to retailers. Initially, retailers assume risk in the supply chain because they are facing an unknown demand, and the suppliers assume no risk. This thesis looks at an example from the garment industry where retailers order to replenish stock after a small assortment buy is placed at the start of the finite selling season. The suppliers must place production orders for the entire selling season before the selling season begins. It is clear see that the retailers assume little risk in this model, while the supplier faces significant risk, especially if its forecasting methods are not accurate. The levels of risk that each assumes in this model are reversed when compared to the traditional supply contract model. A method is developed that coordinates the retailer ordering with the supplier's production schedule. It is shown that coordinating the supply chain's ordering will lead to higher profits than the current, uncoordinated model. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 24). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28577 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28576 The aggregate analysis of logistics cost and total factor productivity Rasamit, Thanattaporn, 1978- The study surveys the relationship of logistics cost and total factor productivity (TFP). The paper discusses the theoretical aspect of TFP growth estimation and the concept of logistics cost as percentage of GDP as the factor indicating efficiency in logistics operations. Calculation of TFP from 1960-2001 is obtained by using growth accounting method. Linear regression analysis between logistics cost and TFP shows significant correlations with negative coefficient between TFP and inventory level of the same year. It also shows correlation with negative coefficient of one-year lagged TFP and following independent variables, logistics cost, inventory level, inventory carrying rate, and inventory carrying cost. Correlation implies the link between logistics efficiency and economy's productivity. Line fit plot for each significant correlation show the common time period of 1973-1986 for the series, which suggests that periods of recession and trucking deregulation might cause abrupt qualitative changes in logistics operations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28576 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28575 Oil transportation in the global landscape : the Murmansk Oil Terminal and Pipeline proposal evaluated Roy, Ankur, 1976- Oil and transportation have been commingled since the first oil reserves were discovered. The importance of energy, namely oil, and the transportation of that energy from the producers to the consumers is persistently monitored and evaluated. Oil producers often seek novel transportation channels to increase oil production, thereby increasing revenues. Oil consumers seek unique transportation nodes to reduce their reliance on a single set of producers while potentially reducing prices. An example of the transportation interplay between global producers and consumers is highlighted by the Murmansk Oil Terminal and Pipeline proposal that seeks to provide Russian oil to the United States in a safe, efficient, and economic manner. The framework and corresponding feasibility analysis highlight the importance of oil transportation in a global landscape and peruse the macro and micro variables that intertwine and impact that landscape. A thorough evaluation of both Russian and US oil reliance must be understood, while extrapolating the influence of ancillary players such as OPEC, West Siberian Oil Reserves, the Murmansk locality, and the marine transportation industry. This thesis seeks to provide a overview of the oil industry generally, while specifically focusing on marine oil transportation. The thesis does so with a case evaluation of the Murmansk Oil Terminal and Pipeline project. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-62). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28575 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28574 Optimization tools for the freight brokerage industry Silver, Jeffrey L. (Jeffrey Lee), 1962- The freight brokerage industry in North America was born of the deregulation of the trucking industry in 1982. In the two decades since, the industry has grown from nothing to $50 Billion in revenue. In the beginning, freight brokers used T-card systems to record, track, and bill orders. Technology advances over those two decades have driven many of the operational changes throughout the freight transportation industry as a whole, with shipment data visibility, asset utilization, and supply chain planning leading the way. The use of optimization tools in transportation and supply chain management has proliferated. Network analysis, inventory planning and deployment, fleet routing, and warehouse planning are important examples of areas in which these tools have had a major impact. However, the freight brokerage sub-industry itself has largely ignored the use of these tools. This research proposes pragmatic uses for optimization techniques in the freight brokerage industry. Three tools are proposed, with justifications for need, mathematical formulations, and exemplary situations and savings described. The three tools are: 1) optimal truckload freight tenders to multiple carriers, 2) optimal LTL consolidation, and 3) optimal matching of loads and trucks. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 46). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28574 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28573 Distribution network reconfiguration for an apparel manufacturer : an inventory analysis Tercero, Pablo, 1973- Companies in the footwear and apparel industry must deal with many supply chain challenges, including intense competition, long production lead times, reliance on international carriers, and shifting consumer preferences. For many large companies, only design and distribution are performed internally. This places pressure on footwear and apparel companies to continually improve supply chain management. This study considers a company in the footwear and apparel industry and its option to consolidate distribution for two separate regions into one. One region currently serves nine times the demand of the other region. In addition, there are differences in labor and transportation costs between the two regions. The company would like to understand the financial, operational, and service impacts associated with consolidation. This study uses a total logistics system approach with particular focus on inventory. The results indicate that if the company were to consolidate distribution for the two regions into one, then there would be a slight total logistics system cost increase. This is due mainly to differences in labor and transportation costs between the two regions. However, sensitivity analysis indicates that if some costs can be reduced, there may actually be potential savings associated with consolidating the two regions. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-85). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28573 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28572 High-fashion, low-price logistics of apparel industry Yim, Bradley Richard, 1976- Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-33). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28572 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28571 Managing flexibility in the supply chain Taylor, James B. (James Boyd), 1975- Supply chain flexibility is introduced and its importance is discussed. This is followed by a review of the flexibility literature in manufacturing, supply chain, economics, strategy, organizational design, and industrial networks. Next, tools for evaluating flexibility are discussed: Decision analysis, decision trees, and real options. Lastly, an analysis of the literature and tools is incorporated into a set of guidelines for dealing with flexibility decisions. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-88). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28571 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28570 Product traceability in the pharmaceutical supply chain : an analysis of the auto-ID approach Bellman, Attilio, 1967- This thesis analyzes how the Auto-ID technology and information infrastructure will change the management and distribution of pharmaceutical products within the health care industry by enabling item level product traceability functionality. The complexity of the health care industry is steadily growing, due to the concurrent increase in medical knowledge, biomedical technologies, the number of medications and the age of the population. The key to ensuring the quality, integrity and availability of health care goods is the ability to track and trace individual items throughout their complete life-cycle from manufacturing to disposal. Product traceability within the Supply Chain is becoming increasingly important for pharmaceutical manufacturers because the increasing number of medications distributed worldwide has led to the proliferation of counterfeit drugs, product diversions, re-importations and grey markets. Ultimately, the increasing complexity of the pharmaceutical distribution could affect patient safety. The potential of the Auto-ID technology and information infrastructure to synchronize the information and material flow is illustrated using a case study methodology. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-73). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28570 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28569 The impact of cooperation on SCM Cai, Yi, 1968- In recent years, cooperation in a supply chain has become a new trend in supply chain management. The benefit of cooperation in a supply chain has been indicated and realized in many studies and pilot projects. Various concepts and approaches have been developed. Through examining the most popular concepts and approaches in recent year, this thesis intends to study the long-term impact of cooperation on a supply chain and discuss several factors necessary to keep the cooperation healthy. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28569 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28568 An auto-ID based approach to reduce counterfeiting in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain Chakrabarti, Indy, 1975- This thesis will discuss a new approach to preventing the adulteration of prescription medicines in America. The primary thrust of the solution is based on research conducted at MIT's Auto-ID Center on radio frequency technology. The United States faces a growing threat to patient health due to the increasing rate of counterfeit medicine being introduced into the legal pharmaceutical supply chain. This has long been an unresolved global problem, but only recently has it become a major threat in America. Existing legal and technical efforts to control counterfeiting are no longer sufficient to contain the problem. The threat of counterfeits can be partially ameliorated by installing RF-capable electronic tags onto medical packaging, and creating a unique electronic product code (EPC). RF tags though, are not the only component of the required solution. New legal actions, better use of existing technical countermeasures, and industry cooperation are also required. This thesis will outline in more detail the interplay of each of these components in developing a robust solution to the problem of counterfeit medicines. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-82). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28568 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28567 Transportation service procurement using combinatorial auctions Chen, XiaoPing, 1971- Auction is a mechanism of selling distinct assets that can be both physical objects and virtual objects. Examples of virtual objects are the rights to use assets like airport time slots and FCC spectrum, or to service truckload delivery routes in a transportation network. Under some situations bidding on combinations of objects can render lower total price compare with bidding the objects one at a time, and the auction that allows bidders to bid on combinations of different assets are called combinatorial auctions. With shipper being the auctioneer and carriers being the bidders, combinatorial auction has become increasingly important in the transportation service procurement domain, due to its mechanism to align shipper s procurement interest with carrier transportation service cost structure, which in turn lowers shippers total procurement cost. The thesis provides a comprehensive review of the use of conditional bidding within a transportation combinatorial auction framework. The thesis first describes the general forms of the transportation services available, and discusses the economics of motor carriers that provide LTL and TL services. It then illustrates the basic optimization technique of conditional bidding for TL service procurement and discusses the information technologies that enable the optimization-based procurement and the actual application of the method in the real world. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-40). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28567 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28566 Pricing strategies for continuous replenishment perishable goods Driegert, William M. (William Matthew), 1977- This thesis investigates the application of Dynamic Pricing strategies at a manufacturer of continuous replenishment perishable goods. I begin with a discussion of Dynamic Pricing models, and select a mixed integer programming formulation as most applicable to the available systems and data of the target company. Cost formulations are built through a detailed analysis of current cost allocations within the company and actual costs when available. Revenue and price elasticity models are built from existing formulations. The continuous functions are then discretized through piece-wise approximations and input into a mixed integer program using production and pricing as the decision variables. The results were not entirely conclusive as sensitivity around the base values, particularly the price elasticity value, can create very different price path solutions. Greater stability is achieved through tightening the price ranges, but the suggested policy of always charging the maximum allowable price is not practical within the company's existing policies. For actual implementation, a much more thorough understanding of the price elasticity mechanism would be required. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-64). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28566 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28565 A strategic approach to supply chain event management Fantozzi, Esmè, 1968- This thesis project explores the possibility to apply project management techniques, specifically critical path method, and PERT, to supply chain event management. The idea behind the project is to create a framework for putting supply chain events into a broader supply chain context and assessing their criticality. Such a framework can then be utilized as a starting point for supply chain event management software applications. The problem has been approached from a "micro" point of view, with the analysis and PERT modeling of a single order fulfillment process, and from a "macro" point of view, with the analysis and a very simple model of the inventory itself. Finally, there are important factors that can drive the development and adoption of such systems in the future, including a higher level of supply chain informatization, removal of inter-and intra-company communication barriers, and better software integration technologies to effectively link all the element of the supply chain network. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 35). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28565 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28563 The effect of technology on cable service to large, networked communities Harmeling, Paul K. (Paul Kristoffer), 1975- Delivering cable television to college and university campuses is maintained by a highly specialized industry which involves significant technological and logistical challenges. As campuses continue to contribute financial resources into improving their data networks, companies that provide campus cable services will need to offer services over data networks comparable to the existing services they offer over dedicated co-axial cable networks. This paper explores the business of providing cable services to university communities, describes the challenges these providers face and offers a glimpse into the future of IP-based desktop television. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 45). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28563 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28562 The complete bill of materials : a study in collaborative manufacturing Hwu, Timothy Tingyaw, 1977- The effects of the bill of material on outsourced manufacturing environment are studied by gathering information on costs to implement a new bill of materials (BOM) transfer process, the potential gains to maintaining a complete bill of material versus the partial or complete embedding of data, and surveying the high-tech electronics manufacturing industry's practice in communicating the bill to their partners. This thesis deals with a telecommunications products company fictitiously named Telcom and its contract manufacturing partners. While much of the cost involved is the price of implementing an Information Technology system to handle manufacturing collaboration, the heart of the issue is the management of the BOM data. Thus, the inclusion of the often undocumented cost or benefits of migration and ongoing coordination and support would further complicate the decision to implement. Furthermore, downstream efforts in supporting this process change and the manufacturer's interests in providing quality and timely service to their partners implies a need to transmit the fully detailed or "exploded" BOM. In some cases, the company's engineers were reluctant to express support for the exploded BOM due to the expected significant workload increase, the perceived added cost in maintaining extra part numbers, and the low expectation of returns for the endeavor. When approached by the prospect to receive standardized formatting but a partially embedded BOM however, the manufacturers expressed concerns regarding lead time elongation and quality degradation. The results on the comparison of the expected costs and benefits of implementation suggest a need for a delivery of a consistently formatted and complete bill of material. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; "June 2003."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 51). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28562 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28561 Historical events and supply chain disruption : chemical, biological, radiological and cyber events Lensing, Reshma P. (Reshma Pradhan), 1972- In the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, terrorism emerged as a legitimate threat not just to society, but to corporations as well. This new threat has challenged old business rules and prompted companies to rethink their supply chain operations. However, the events of September 11th were not the first or the only disruptions that the business world had experienced. This thesis reviews past historical events that simulate the effects of a terrorist attack and extracts lessons that can be applied by today's corporations to prepare for future attacks or disruptions. The types of events studied include Biological, Chemical, Radiological and Cyber disruptions. Through the analysis and synthesis of each event's impact, the following generalized recommendations emerged: Prior warnings and events should be acknowledged, studied and utilized. Government intervention may strain operations under disruptive stress. Alternate sourcing should be considered to ease supply issues. Disruptions should be approached in a comprehensive and forthright manner. A security and safety culture should be fostered to prevent disruptions and control their spread. Systems should be prepared to quickly operate in isolation during a disruption. Finally, impact is frequently less severe then initially predicted. Through the events described and these recommendations, this thesis aims to provide lessons for firms to manage their supply chains through future disruptions. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-113). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28561 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28524 A system dynamics approach to supplier partnership management in supply chain Zhai, Lihua, 1977- To be competitive and quick-to-market in today's global marketplace, Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) providers should focus on their core competencies, partnership relationships and continuous improvements. As Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Customers shift their focus on marketing and product development, EMS providers have been assuming the leading role to develop creative manufacturing solutions based on the core competencies in their supply chains. A tightly-coupled and synergistic relationship with OEM customers and key components suppliers is critical to EMS providers' success. This thesis focuses on applying system dynamics approach to supplier partnership management at FSJC, a top player in EMS industry, with the aim of gain deeper understanding on dynamics within FSJC's supply chain network and between suppliers and FSJC. We find out that to maintain its market position, FSJC must concentrate on small number of qualified suppliers and put effort to build strong partnership with these suppliers. This requires a better understanding of the impact of key parameters of partnership and manufacturing process of both suppliers and FSJC. Developing this sort of understanding can help FSJC continue to provide worldwide responsiveness to its customers by improving time-to-market, scalability and manufacturing efficiency and foster long-term partnership with both customers and suppliers by improving communications both upstream and downstream in the supply chain. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 62 ). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28524 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28523 Improving logistics and supply chain services for MNCs doing business in P.R. China Zheng, Benjamin Yukai, 1971- Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-43). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28523 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28522 China logistics review and business opportunity analysis Zhang, Daguang, 1972- Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 37). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28522 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28521 A strategic analysis of online grocery and its future outlook Xie, Kang, 1973- (cont.) are suggested to help future online grocers avoid the mistakes made by the earlier attempt, align their business strategy with the growing consumer interest in specialty foods and wellness services and find the niche market that is best for their business. Finally, a vision of future online grocery store is conceptualized based upon the latest Semantic web technologies and a successful supply chain management practice in the retail industry--Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI).; The e-commerce boom has led to a major shift in business paradigm from the traditional brick-and-mortar store to the direct sale click-and-mortar model across the business world. Amazon and Dell pioneered the direct sale concept and fundamentally changed the way of doing business in their industries. Since then, many traditional industries have experienced similar transformations. Online grocery business, for example, has seen many failed endeavors to emulate Amazon and Dell's success in the past few years. The most famous one was Webvan--a 7.8 billion dollar roller coaster ride that in two years burned through all its cash reserve and produced zero profits. Webvan epitomized one of the classic mistakes during the dotcom era--the "Get-big-fast" doctrine that infatuated the e-commerce world at that time. On the other hand, other online store such as Tesco and Peapod cautiously laid out their operations that strategically aligned with their original vision of the online grocery business--not as a revolutionary new business model but as a value-added convenience service provider that exists on top of the existing structure. That strategy not only helped them survive the turmoil of e-commerce downturn but also turned them into successful players in the markets they are serving. This thesis will analyze these three online grocers' business models and explore the underlying reasons that contributed to their failure and success, respectively. A recent trend in online grocery business is to positions online grocery store as a premium food and service provider that delivers high quality food products to the upper-income group. A representative case--FreshDirect--is analyzed to bring insights to this new niche market. From these findings, a list of recommendations Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28521 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28520 Two approaches to buffer management under demand uncertainty : an analytical process Xu, Zhiyu, 1973- (cont.) boundary and leave more demand uncertainty to the pull part of the system.; Based on a particular case study, this paper presents two approaches to buffer management under demand uncertainty, which is characterized by high lumpiness, dispersion and volatility. The common theme of both of the two approaches is not to find an advanced statistical method to improve demand forecast on the basis of historical data. Rather, these approaches provide new business paradigms to deal with demand uncertainty. The first approach, make-to-anticipated-order (MTAO), takes advantage of the mechanism of make-to-order (MTO) and develops a process that the production is pulled by anticipated orders instead of being pushed by the forecast of unpredictable future demand. The implementation of this method, on one hand, breaks through the precondition of MTO that the total production cycle time should be less than customers' desired lead-time. On the other hand, MTAO enjoys the advantage of arranging production by responding to customer demand to reduce inventory costs and obsolescence risks of MPS level items. The second approach makes use of postponement and commonality strategy to lower demand uncertainty. The basic principle is that aggregate demand is more stable than disaggregate demand. Thus, if a common module instead of various individual modules in a module family acts as a MPS item, the demand of the common module will represent the aggregate demand of all individual modules in the module family and more accurate forecast can be made. Then by using the forecasted demand distribution of the common module, we can figure out optimized multistage inventory placement to buffer demand uncertainty with the minimum holding cost of total safety stock. In effect, by implementing postponement and commonality strategy, we change the push-pull Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-67). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28520 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28519 Lucent SCN : leveraging the fully integrated supply chain Scholtz, Duncan M. L. (Duncan Myndert L.), 1975- (cont.) in the success of Lucent's turnaround and, from the patterns that emerge, a basis for a new holistic framework for designing and leveraging an integrated supply chain is offered. This framework suggests that attaining competitive advantage from supply chain capabilities lies in a firm's ability to incorporate corporate culture, leadership style, organization structure and both inter and intra tier governance methods into it's supply chain design in order to enable an integrated and extended organization where the channel expert can be identified and engaged in decision making in a natural, real-time and organic process.; Over the past three years, in response to dramatic changes in the telecommunications industry, Lucent Technologies has realigned its corporate strategy from being a provider of manufacturing excellence to one of supply chain excellence. Supported by this realignment, Lucent has recently returned to profitability after eleven consecutive losing quarters, and has posted dramatic improvements in financial, operational and customer satisfaction metrics. Lucent's new strategy is focused on leveraging its supply chain capabilities to create a new extended enterprise that is both customer and supplier intimate, and operates as a broad reaching cross-functional Supply Chain Networks (SCN) organization. Pivotal to the success of this realignment was extending the scope of Lucent's supply chain activities, both internally and externally to the company. Internally, Lucent integrated such non-traditional SCM activities as sales, product design, and margin management into its newly created SCN organization. Externally, by outsourcing virtually all of its manufacturing, and much of the associated supplier management, to Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) partners, Lucent became responsible for the orchestration of an extended multi-tier supply chain that integrated abilities and expertise of functional teams within Lucent and within its EMS partners, raw component suppliers and customers. In this thesis, the Supply Chain Networks transformation at Lucent is examined in the broader context of the changes that took place in Lucent's: organizational model; leadership team; corporate culture; customer and supplier relationships; operations; and market space. The change that was effected in each of these areas is reviewed for its role Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-69). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28519 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28518 Meeting the RFID mandate : options for Wal-Mart suppliers and evaluation methodology Singh, Kapil Dev, 1975- Various retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Albertsons have announced their mandates asking their top suppliers to become RFID enabled beginning 2005. Meeting the mandate has become a sort of cost of doing business with Wal-Mart for suppliers. The objective of this thesis is to look for ways of meeting the mandate and preventing it from just becoming a cost of doing business with Wal-Mart. The thesis explores the various options available to suppliers and identifies the cost and benefit associated with each option and develops an evaluation methodology for the various options. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28518 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28517 An analysis of technical, process and organizational challenges confronting corporations implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology projects Roost, Nathan Christopher, 1975- The purpose of the thesis is to identify practical challenges that are being addressed by companies implementing RFID related technologies in a variety of supply chain management applications. The test engagements undertaken by companies are intended to investigate the economic, functional and process related benefits that might be derived from adoption of this emerging technology. Field research will uncover both challenges and possible solutions being developed by companies, in addition to understanding the impact of challenges may have on wide spread adoption of RFID technologies. The challenges observed in this research project will be evaluated using a simple analytical framework, and field case studies are to be developed to provide summaries of current RFID pilot project activities. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-48). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28517 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28516 Creating comparative advantages in the E-commerce industry Um, Young Beom, 1981- A myriad of electronic retailers are contending in a battle to guard their established territories in cyberspace. Many of them are desperately searching for the key to sustainable growth and profitability as the struggle continues and intensifies. This study finds that one powerful way to attract customers in the e-commerce industry is to create "stickiness" through virtual communities and personalization. Virtual communities and personalization have become necessary elements for a successful e-business as they provide extended customer relations. The two cannot be easily imitated by rivals, creating sustainable competitive advantages. This paper substantiates the above claims in many approaches. First, the literature review will provide information to understand the importance of virtual communities and personalization. A dynamic feedback model is then presented to show how the two factors interact to develop a solid loyal customer base. Next, results of multivariate regression analysis using General Social Surveys 1972-2000 further justify the claim that virtual communities and personalization have significant positive effects on individuals' online purchase behavior. This empirical work also show that demographic variables are not correlated with the probability of making online purchases. Finally, case studies of leading e-commerce firms are presented to confirm that electronic retailers effectively managing virtual communities and offering personalized services are rewarded with customer loyalty, impressive growth, and above industry-average profit returns. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-57). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28516 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28515 A real options approach to manage flexible contracts in the telecommunication networking industry Tay, Ee Learn, 1968- One of the biggest challenges facing Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers in the telecommunication networking industry is to predict the spending patterns of the telecommunication service providers due to uncertainties in the economy, intense competition, short product life cycle in the industry and many other factors. While studies over the years have focused on optimizing the expected profits by minimizing the risk of excess inventory, companies are also unwilling to forgo profits on unmet demand. This is especially so in a market that is worth well over $100 billion even during the economic downturn. Including the cost of damaged relationships and future market opportunities, the cost of lost sales can be very significant the increasingly competitive market. This thesis explores the use of real options to enable a telecommunication networking company to structure their supply chain so as to better exploit the upside opportunities; when actual customer demand significantly exceed forecasted demand and actual demand can only be confirmed when the delivery lead-time is less than the normal supply lead-time. The thesis sets forth a framework for developing real options analysis and evaluated three approaches against the current supply contract between the OEM and EMS provider. Recommendations that will allow the company to improve their profits in the event of surged demand were then made. The main finding of the thesis is that in times of increased demand, the real options approaches studied all generated higher value for the company than simply relying on demand forecasting. However, beside projected demand, companies considering using real options must consider a number of parameters time. The thesis sets forth a framework for developing real options analysis and evaluated three approaches against the current supply contract between the OEM and EMS provider. Recommendations that will allow the company to; (cont.) including the option price, strike price, cost of lost sales and salvage value of the product concerned. In the case of the company concerned in the study, it is recommended that they establish a safety stock option with their EMS provider.; improve their profits in the event of surged demand were then made. The main finding of the thesis is that in times of increased demand, the real options approaches studied all generated higher value for the company than simply relying on demand forecasting. However, beside projected demand, companies considering using real options must consider a number of parameters Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-79). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28515 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28514 The application of prediction markets to business Schrieber, Jared M. (Jared Martin), 1976- According to financial theory, open markets efficiently and effectively aggregate all available information about future events into their prices. Recent empirical evidence has shown that speculative markets, from gambling to web-games, are better at predicting the future than more commonly used statistical or survey-based forecasting methods. As a result, a number of companies have conducted experiments to evaluate the use of prediction markets as an alternative forecasting methodology. This paper offers a comprehensive framework for determining when and how prediction markets should be employed in a business context. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28514 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28513 Encoding, application and association of radio frequency identification tags on high speed manufacturing lines Fonseca, Herbert Moreti, 1973- One of the entry points of radio frequency identification technology in supply chain applications is at the manufacturing line, after production, as packaged goods leave for the next link of the network of suppliers, carriers, distributors and retailers. To RFID-enable packaged products, an RFID device needs to be attached to the packaging and an identification number needs to be generated and stored accordingly. Today, a few early adopters of the technology already started to apply RFID tags to some of their cases and pallets and to collect and store the information. These processes however, are still to a large extent done at a slow pace, manually or in an experimental mode, and that may not be suited for large scale applications. To address this issue, this research document focuses on the implementation of an RFID enabled process under strict time and performance constraints, for case packaged goods and pallets. This document reviews the currently published information on the topic and the Auto-ID technology standards. It analyses system integration challenges, proposes a process for case and pallet level encoding, application and association and discusses some of information systems requirements for the implementation. It proposes a framework of options with the requirements and considerations the author believes to be most relevant. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-51). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28513 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28512 How regional authorities can achieve economic development through investments in the logistics sector Khan, Taimur, 1973- Lessons for how a regional authority should develop its logistics sector are learned through case studies on four areas (section 2). In addition, a "logistics attractiveness" ranking framework is developed and applied (section 3). A learning from the case studies is that a regional authority plays an active role. It leads the development and sustained progress of logistics related activity either directly or through facilitation. Another insight is that training of people and academic research activity in the field of logistics is accompanying the local development of the logistics sector. This is done somewhat independently by the universities but the authorities are playing a supporting role. Countries found to rank high in their overall logistics attractiveness are generally competitive in infrastructure, information & communication technology (ICT) and ease of doing business (EOB. In addition to the case studies and 'logistics attractiveness' ranking framework this thesis provides an overview of other areas around the world where new logistics park type development activity is found to be taking place (section 4). Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-43). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28512 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28511 RFID ROI Kinley, John Dirk, 1971- This thesis investigates financial results from RFID integration at product level in semiconductor manufacturing. The thesis explores how the technology might act in concert with other significant logistics tools to create return on investment. In this case, the use of RFID, along with postponement and Kanban practices, may help a manufacturer better align supply with central processing unit (CPU) demand. The resulting economic benefits are explored through yield scenarios. It is important to note that the thesis explores this topic without the benefit of empirical data. Consequently, a number of assumptions were made; these assumptions may affect the validity of the observations. Nonetheless, the study demonstrates an innovative approach that may contribute to new models of creative problem solving. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-47). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28511 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28510 An analysis of reverse logistics technology and service for hi-tech industry Li, Jinfan, 1976- This thesis provides a method for hi-tech companies to evaluate reverse logistic software and services. To clarify what is reverse logistics, the definition and features of reverse logistics are first introduced. The reasons to improve reverse logistics management systems are explained. Information of reverse logistics software systems and service vendors is collected, compared and analyzed. Current reverse logistics market trends are analyzed and problems in evaluating reverse logistics systems are identified. An algorithm to evaluate the software and service is established and explained. Parameters are analyzed and determined. Various vendors are selected and interviewed. Their capabilities/strengths are rated. As an example, the evaluation points for several software systems are calculated in the case of a semi-conductor company. Research limits are also provided. Conclusions are presented at the end of the thesis. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; "June 2004."; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 52). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28510 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28509 Logistics barriers for multinational corporations doing business in China Luo, Manqin, 1976- With rapid economic growth, China attracts many multinational corporations (MNCs) as a manufacturing center with both its cheap labor cost and a huge consumer market. While doing business in China, most MNCs have faced logistical problems in connection with the transportation of their materials and the flow of information. The research objective of this paper is to describe the current state of Chinese logistics service and identify the logistics barriers that foreign firms have encountered in China. Dell and Wal-Mart are selected as case studies. The thesis analyzes their operating strategies and solutions to various problems they encountered in China and makes some recommendations. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, February 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28509 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28508 Commoditization of the third party logistics industry Manatayev, Yerlan Yergalievich, 1980- Third party logistics companies in the US emerged in the 1980s and have been providing valuable service for companies willing to outsource logistics. Since then the industry has been growing substantially both in terms revenues and number of players. Nowadays 3PL market has a decent share in total transportation costs and established position in the transportation sector. Furthermore, analysts forecast a significant growth of the industry and an increase of its role in the supply chain management of companies. However, the industry is not enjoying adequate profits and margins are small. 3PL companies have difficulties differentiating among each other and have difficulties demonstrating value proposition to potential customers. At first glance, it signifies commoditization--a competitive environment in which differentiation is difficult, customer loyalty is low and competing offerings are virtually indistinguishable from customer perspective. The objective of this study is to explore whether third party logistics industry in the US is experiencing commoditization by studying current state of the industry, its competitive environment and dynamics. We investigate the principal drivers of commoditization dynamics in the industry, leverage points for influencing the dynamics, and possible strategic responses of 3PL companies. The methodology for the research is the System Dynamics, analysis of industry competitive forces using Porter's framework, analysis of profitability trend in a sample of fifteen logistics companies over period 1985-2003, and a review of current dynamics in the market. The study gives better understanding of the current competitive environment and suggests that the 3PL industry is experiencing; (cont.) commoditization. Third party logistics have been approaching commodity status, and transforming the logistics outsourcing value equation from high margins and vendor control into a classic buyers' market with competition driving down margins, adding features and services, and increasing buyer choice. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-59). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28508 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28507 A decision-support model for managing the fuel inventory of a Panamanian generating company Perez-Franco, Roberto, 1976- Bahia Las Minas Corp (BLM) is a fuelpowered generating company in the Panamanian power system. The purpose of this thesis is to design and evaluate a decision-support model for managing the fuel inventory of this company. First, we research BLM and its fuel replenishment methods. Then we define the problem, its objective function, assumptions, parameters and constraints. After identifying the most important given information (fuel price forecast, demand forecast, and current inventory levels), we define the equations that relate these inputs with the order sizes, and the availability and reserve constraints. Due to the large number of constraints, we devise a mechanism to calculate lower limits for the aggregate order sizes that prevent violations of the constraints beyond user-defined limits. We prepare a model in Excel for use with a single fuel type. This model takes stochastic forecasts of demand and fuel prices, and determines the best size for the weekly fuel order. After testing the model under several different scenarios, we conclude that it responds correctly to changes in price and demand. The complete discussion of these results can be found in the body of the thesis. Finally, we present some recommendations for BLM, both in relation to this replenishment problem and to its supply chain in general. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 89). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28507 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28506 Using a newsvendor model for demand planning of NFL replica jerseys Parsons, John C. W. (John Charles Wilfred), 1976- The thesis addresses the inventory planning process for NFL Replica jerseys. The analysis is conducted from the perspective of the manufacturer's North American distribution center, and how flexibility can be employed to meet customer demands. NFL replica jerseys can be stocked either completed with player name and number, called "dressed" or as "blank" jerseys that can be customized at the distribution center. Player demand can change drastically from year to year. The result is that common practice is to minimize inventory at year-end, and treat each season as a single period. The approach taken utilizes the newsvendor model to determine the optimal stocking levels of replica jerseys given an expected demand forecast. Two modeling approaches were compared, the traditional newsvendor problem and a newsvendor model with risk pooling. The traditional newsvendor problem separated selected players to order as dressed jerseys and remaining demand to order as "blank" jerseys. The second approach, the newsvendor with risk pooling, provides a more flexible inventory plan that satisfies selected player demand using a combination of dressed and blank jerseys. The newsvendor model with risk pooling resulted in the higher expected profits then the traditional newsvendor model, and comparable service levels, but at much lower inventory levels. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28506 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28505 Transportation resource scheduling in food retail industry Akkas, Arzum, 1978- The objective of this thesis is to find an appropriate analytical method for scheduling the daily driver tasks in the grocery industry. The goal is to maximize driver utilization. A "Bin-packing" approach is employed to solve the problem. A Bin-packing problem concerns packing a list of items into the minimal number of unit capacity bins. In our problem, the drivers correspond to the bins and the daily delivery tasks are equivalent to the items, where we use time units to measure bin capacity. The model is applied to characterize the operation of a grocery company. Several bin-packing algorithms are implemented on two weeks of delivery data, which represent the company's transportation demand. The driver requirements are calculated and compared with their actual assets. Driver requirements are assessed on a per-day basis, considering the volatility in transportation demand over the course of the week. The performance of a given bin-packing algorithm is measured by how well it maximizes driver utilization and balances the workload among the drivers. The model's solution generated labor savings and proved that better resource allocation is possible by considering the demands of the various dispatching locations and the days of the week. Extension of the current model to capture the time window constraints of the delivery locations is proposed for future further research. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-88). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28505 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28504 An evaluation of scenario planning for supply chain design Boasson, Yishai, 1973- When trying to envision what the future might look like, different methods of forecasting are often used. However, there is a growing consensus that discontinuity and abrupt change are inherent to the very nature of the future and should be incorporated into futurist studies. One such study is the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics' Future of Supply Chain 2020 (SC2020). This paper reviews the future-studies method of Scenario Planning and evaluates its applicability to the SC2020 project. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-52). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28504 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28503 Radio frequency identification (RFID) applications in semiconductor manufacturing Cassett, David Ian, 1971-; Hopeman, Christopher William Chiu, 1976- Radio frequency identification (RFID) has an enormous potential impact within the semiconductor supply chain, especially within semiconductor manufacturing. The end benefit of RFID will be in the mass serialization, and the subsequent tracking and tracing, of individual semiconductors, or what is referred to as Unit Level Traceability (ULT). Before all of the technical hurdles of ULT are overcome, however, there exists a host of other applications for RFID within semiconductor manufacturing. The identification of what can and what should be RFID-tagged and read, the analysis of how to collect this information and what to do with the data, and the implementation of some targeted opportunities will provides valuable information with regards to the technical and logistical hurdles of RFID within semiconductor manufacturing far before ULT becomes a reality. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 87). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28503 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28502 Improving efficiency in product and process development : a case study on a consumer products creation process Dong, Xiaoqin, 1971- This research examines how an athletic footwear company should establish its new product development and launch process to eliminate wastes in the processes and improve the time to market. Currently, it typically takes an athletic footwear company twelve months to introduce new product samples. Retailers place orders after they see samples, however they will not receive and sell the shoes in their retail stores until six months later. The total process from an idea generated to the time when the final products launch takes eighteen months. While this system is set up due to historical reasons, forward looking management teams in the industry see a lot of inefficiencies in it, especially when athletic footwear becomes more and more fashion driven. Why should retailers stick to this advance buying pattern where they take big risks predicting the market six months ahead of time? What if this advance buying pattern is eliminated for whatever reasons? How companies can improve their new products launch process to make them prepared for the possible new challenges in the future? This research studies the new product development process in a large athletic footwear company (Hereinafter US-Footwear). Recommendations include adopting a systematic new products development framework to shorten the time to market. Specifically, this systematic roadmap will force companies to redefine milestones and key activities; this approach will also form a "funnel" screening and informed decision making mechanism. Consequently, companies would be able to eliminate non-value added activities and focus their valuable resources only on the most winning products. It will thus provide companies huge potential to shorten the time to market by doing fewer activities, fewer products and by greatly; (cont.) reducing iterative design changes. Lastly, the author believes that fashion business in general could benefit by adopting the similar approach. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60). Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28502 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28501 Potential for utilization of radio frequency identification in the semiconductor manufacturing intermediate supply chain Duckworth, Dennis Allen, 1971- This paper investigates one specific portion of the supply chain between a semiconductor manufacturer and one of its major customers. The purpose is to dive deeply into one particular segment of the logistical process between these two entities--namely, the function of transport and storage of microprocessors after semiconductor fabrication facilities and before placement of those microprocessors into products at the customer site--to determine whether there exists a value proposition for implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in this process. Specifically, the current process was observed and recorded; then two possible amendments to that process are promulgated and discussed--one which implements box-level traceability (BLT) and one which implements unit-level traceability (ULT). The proposed processes attempt to maintain as strict an adherence as possible to the nature and needs of the current process since the purpose of the study is to determine whether RFID technology alone, independent of major software or process revision, can benefit this portion of the supply chain. Observations and learnings at both BLT and ULT are discussed as well as key learnings for the effectiveness of RFID within this particular process. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.; Includes bibliographical references. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28501 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/27514 U.S. Postal Service response to logistics disruptions resulting from terrorism : its effectiveness and relevance to other organizations Hamel, Christopher J. (Christopher John), 1962- Following the incidents of 9/11, the FAA imposed new restrictions on cargo to be carried aboard commercial aircraft. This had broad and immediate impact on the U.S. Postal Service, which has long depended on such flights to carry mail, particularly expedited services such as Priority and Express Mail. In fact, the USPS normally utilizes over 15,000 commercial flights daily to transport approximately one quarter of the daily mail volume-over 170 million pieces. In less than 3 hours on that September 11 in 2001, more than 4,500 commercial flights were landed immediately regardless of where they were or where they were headed. It was two days before mail began to move again aboard commercial aircraft, and restrictions persist 18 months later, including one prohibiting any mail weighing in excess of 16 ounces. It is this restriction in particular that most drastically affected movement of the mail. There are many measures that the USPS has identified and/or undertaken since the onset of the aforementioned situations. Some of these measures were permanent and some temporary. While the USPS is different in some respects from other businesses or organizations in general, there are certainly many parallels as well. In lights of this, there may be valuable lessons to be learned from the experiences and actions of the U.S. Postal Service. By studying these actions--and determining their effectiveness in terms of delivery standards, financial impact, and effect on short and long-term strategy--other organizations may ultimately save themselves time and money by following the example of the USPS. Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003.; This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.; Includes bibliographical references (leaf 29). Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/27514 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z