Effects of Random Yield in Remanufacturing with Price‐Sensitive Supply and Demand

In this study, we investigate the effects of recovery yield rate on pricing decisions in reverse supply chains. Motivated by the automotive parts remanufacturing industry, we consider an end‐of‐life product from which a particular part can be recovered and remanufactured for reuse, and the remainder of the product can be recycled for material recovery. Both the supply of end‐of‐life products and demand for remanufactured parts are price‐sensitive. Yield of the recovery process is random and depends on the acquisition price offered for the end‐of‐life products. In this setting, we develop models to determine the optimal acquisition price for the end‐of‐life products and the selling price for remanufactured parts. We also analyze the effects of yield variation to the profitability of remanufacturing, benefits of delaying pricing decisions until after yield realization, and value of perfect yield rate information.     

Pricing decisions in a multi-criteria setting for product recovery facilities

Unpredictability in the arrival time and quantity of discarded products at product recovery facilities (PRFs) and varying demand for recovered components contribute to the volatility in their inventory levels. Achieving profit under such capricious inventory levels and stringent environmental legislations remains a challenge to many PRFs. This paper presents a multi-criteria decision model to determine a pricing policy that can simultaneously address two issues: stabilize inventory fluctuations and boost profits. The model considers that PRFs passively accepts discarded products as well as acquires them proactively if necessary. Under a multi-criteria setting, the current work determines prices of reusable and recyclable components to maximize revenue and minimize product recovery costs. A genetic algorithm is employed to solve the multi-criteria decision making problem. Sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the effect of sorting yield, disassembly yield, and reusable component yield on the profits, prices, inventory levels, and disposal quantities.     

THE IMPACT OF PRODUCT RECOVERY ON LOGISTICS NETWORK DESIGN

Efficient implementation of closed‐loop supply chains requires setting up appropriate logistics structures for the arising flows of used and recovered products. In this paper we consider logistics network design in a reverse logistics context. We present a generic facility location model and discuss differences with traditional logistics settings. Moreover, we use our model to analyze the impact of product return flows on logistics networks. We show that the influence of product recovery is very much context dependent. While product recovery may efficiently be integrated in existing logistics structures in many cases, other examples require a more comprehensive approach redesigning a company's logistics network in an integral way.     

Lot Sizing for Optimal Collection and Use of Remanufacturable Returns over a Finite Life‐Cycle

Reverse supply chains process used product returns to recover value by re‐processing them via remanufacturing operations. When remanufacturing is feasible, the longer the return flows are delayed during the active (primary) market demand period of the product, the lower the value that can be recovered through these operations. In fact, in order to recover the highest value from remanufactured products, the collection rates, return timings, and reusability rates should be matched with the active market demand and supply. With these motivations, this paper is aimed at developing analytical models for the efficient use of returns in making production, inventory, and remanufacturing decisions during the active market. More specifically, we consider a stylistic setting where a collector collects used product returns and ships them to the manufacturer who, in turn, recovers value by remanufacturing and supplies products during the active market demand. Naturally, the manufacturer's production, inventory and remanufacturing decisions and costs are influenced by the timing and quantity of the collector's shipments of used product returns. Hence, we investigate the impact of the timing of returns on the profitability of the manufacturer‐collector pair by developing system‐wide cost optimization models. Analyzing the properties of the optimal shipment frequency, we observe that the fastest reverse supply chain may not always be the most efficient one.     

Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications

In the last decades, green and sustainable supply chain management practices have been developed, trying to integrate environmental concerns into organisations by reducing unintended negative consequences on the environment of production and consumption processes. In parallel to this, the circular economy discourse has been propagated in the industrial ecology literature and practice. Circular economy pushes the frontiers of environmental sustainability by emphasising the idea of transforming products in such a way that there are workable relationships between ecological systems and economic growth. Therefore, circular economy is not just concerned with the reduction of the use of the environment as a sink for residuals but rather with the creation of self-sustaining production systems in which materials are used over and over again.Through two case studies from different process industries (chemical and food), this paper compares the performances of traditional and circular production systems across a range of indicators. Direct, indirect and total lifecycle emissions, waste recovered, virgin resources use, as well as carbon maps (which provide a holistic visibility of the entire supply chain) are presented. The paper asserts that an integration of circular economy principles within sustainable supply chain management can provide clear advantages from an environmental point view. Emerging supply chain management challenges and market dynamics are also highlighted and discussed.     

Risk Analysis of a Gas-Processing Complex in India

ONGC's Hazira Gas-Processing Complex (HGPC) consists of facilities for receiving natural gas along with associated condensate from an off-shore field at a rate of 20 MMN M3 per day. After separating the condensate, which is processed in condensate fractionation units, the gas is processed through various steps to recover LPG and to reduce its dew point to less than 5 degrees C in order to make it suitable for transportation over long distances. The acid gas recovered during the gas-sweetening step is processed to obtain sulphur. The major products manufactured at HGPC therefore are lean sweet gas, LPG, NGL, and sulphur. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission awarded the assignment on Hazard Study and Risk Analysis of their Hazira Gas-Processing Complex (HGPC) to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in association with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The scope of this assignment covered a number of closely related and fully defined activities normally encountered in this type of work. Identification of hazards through the most appropriate methods, assigning frequency of occurrence of major unwanted incidents, quantification and assessment of probable damage to plant equipment, environment, human and animal life due to an unexpected event, and evaluation of various methods for reducing risk, together constituted the methodology for this assignment. Detailed recommendations aimed at reducing risk and enhancing reliability of plant and machinery were made. This article gives an overview of the assignment.     

考虑产能约束的新产品与旧产品预售策略研究

预售商品种类繁多，可分为从未上市过的新产品和已经上市过旧产品。面对不同类型的产品，根据消费者效用理论，消费者可能做出不同的决策。研究在产能约束的前提下，零售商销售不同类型产品的最优预售策略问题。结果表明，新产品的最优预售策略取决于正常销售价格，旧产品的最优预售策略受正常销售价格与消费者构成的共同影响，且前者的影响作用大于后者。较低的正常销售价格或较大的高估值消费者比例增大了消费者在正常销售期购买的缺货风险，零售商应采取溢价预售策略，否则应采取折价预售策略。此外将新产品和旧产品的最优预售策略对比发现，利用消费者对产品估值的不确定性，新产品预售比旧产品预售更具优势。     

基于互联网金融模式的结构性理财产品风险度量研究进展

针对由期权和固定收益类产品组合而成的结构性理财产品，本文基于互联网金融模式对结构性理财产品进行风险度量理论、方法及应用研究进行了分析和述评，并对基于互联网金融环境下用不同分布类型来刻画风险因子相依关系的线性和非线性资产组合的风险集成度量模型进行了归类总结。最后，提出了基于互联网金融模式的结构性理财产品风险度量研究展望。     

公开或隐藏未来市场价格对新品预售的影响研究

预售是新产品上市前，商家允许消费者提前预定产品的一种销售手段。本文以新产品预售为背景，建立了商家同时销售新旧两代产品时的预售模型，先对消费者最优购买策略进行了分析，在此基础上，分两种情况，即商家在预售阶段公开或隐藏新品未来市场价格，研究了商家最优预售价格折扣和最优订购量。最后，通过数值仿真分析了影响新品预售策略和商家收益的一些因素。结果表明，商家在预售阶段公开新品未来市场价格可以获得更高期望收益。     

The value of acquisition price differentiation in reverse logistics

The quality of returned products may vary greatly, depending on their previous usage. Since the remanufacturing of products in good condition is more economically rewarding for the remanufacturer—and since even for non-remanufacturable products the value that can be extracted from their parts or materials may depend on the products’ quality—it seems logical to acquire used products of different quality levels at different prices. However, acquisition price differentiation requires the product quality to be revealed, i.e. the products are graded before their actual acquisition. We observe two different approaches in current practice. The first one is a decentralized system with several collection sites to which the customers can bring their used products. After a short grading procedure, they receive a specific acquisition price offer for their products, which they can accept or decline directly. The second setting is a reverse logistics system with a centralized grading facility. The final grading is conducted after shipping the used products to this specific facility. Motivated by these empirical observations, we compare the two strategies with the help of a continuous approximation model. We derive analytical expressions for the optimal pricing and network density decision and show that, in addition to the other factors discussed in the literature, acquisition price differentiation can be a reason for decentralizing the reverse logistics network, if the product quality is uncertain. Furthermore, we illustrate our results with a numerical example.     

Joint product assortment,inventory and price optimization to attract loyal and non-loyal customers

In this paper, we analyze the emerging retail practice of carrying a combined product assortment consisting of both regular “standard” products and more fashionable and short-lived “special” products. The purpose of this practice is to increase store traffic by attracting heterogeneous classes of customers, which drives up sales of standard products due to the potential cross-selling effect. Customers who are primarily attracted by special products will also buy some standard products. In this context, we analyze three decisions that are crucial for a retailer׳s commercial success: the product assortment, the inventory levels and the pricing. We propose an optimization model and an iterative heuristic to analyze the trade-offs between the combined product assortment, the inventory level and the price per product when there is limited shelf space. Using numerical experiments, we show that our heuristic can be trusted and that its accuracy improves when the number of products increases. Our findings indicate that to attract more customers for standard products, a retailer may benefit from carrying low priced special products which, if considered in isolation, would be non-profitable. As the cross-selling effect decreases, a retailer should focus more on the standard assortment by increasing its size and decreasing the prices. However, introducing special products and ignoring the cross-selling effect may decrease a retailer׳s profitability. We show that the introduction of special products involves more than just choosing the right specials for non-loyal customers but impacts the global assortment planning, the standard products and the products pricing.     

产品优惠券价值的框架效应研究

以现有产品和改进型新产品为研究对象,通过实验方法分析不同折扣方式对优惠券价值效应的影响,以此对新产品优惠券价值的框架效应进行实证研究.研究结果表明,优惠券价值的不同展现形式对优惠券价值效应有调节作用.针对现有产品,对低档产品的估计价格没有显著差别,对高档产品有显著差异,适合采用金额折扣方式;对于有形产品和服务产品.两者都更适合比例折扣形式;针对新产品,框架效应更为显著,低档新产品更适合提供比例折扣优惠券.高档新产品金额折扣的高估价反而会增强购买意愿;对于有形新产品的估计价格没有显著差异,而服务新产品使用比例折扣时购买意愿更高.研究结果对指导企业管理实践具有重要参考价值.     

Effects of the Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement on U.S. agricultural exports

This paper investigates the effects of the Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement (CUSTA) on U.S. exports of agricultural products. Econometric analysis found that CUSTA has had a large impact on many U.S. agricultural export categories. All of the consumer-oriented products (except wine and beer), five of the intermediate products, and four of the bulk products had significant CUSTA effects. It is clear that the CUSTA effects have been larger for consumer-oriented food products. There is also evidence that U.S. affiliate sales in Canada have stimulated U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products and intermediate products.     

Channel Structure Design for Complementary Products under a Co‐Opetitive Environment

In the high‐tech industry, firms can be partners in one respect (e.g., resellers) and competitors in another. In this article, we investigate the channel structure problem for two firms‐each selling competing products in two complementary markets—who are deciding whether to sell their products to customers directly or distribute one of them through a competitor. The customers are heterogeneous and both firms have products that are horizontally differentiated. When selling products directly, the firm can coordinate the prices of the two complementary products and avoid the inefficiency of double marginalization. However, selling (indirectly) through the competing manufacturer can mitigate competition because the competitor shares the profit of both competing products and therefore does not price its own products aggressively. One might expect that when the externality across the markets is strong, firms would prefer to sell both products directly (rather than through the competitor) in order to take advantage of the complementarity between markets and eliminate the inefficiency of double marginalization. Interestingly, we find that even though the first mover chooses to sell both products directly, the second mover forsakes the opportunity to coordinate the prices of its products and instead opts to distribute one of the products through the first mover.     

基于产品相关性及研发创新下的销售方式偏好研究

针对零售商捆绑上游多个制造商产品的现状，考察了由两个制造商和一个零售商组成的供应链系统，制造商进行研发投资降低各自产品成本，零售商进行产品销售并选择分开销售还是捆绑销售。考虑制造商研发行为下，探究供应链成员对不同相关性产品销售方式的偏好。研究发现，（1）对于独立产品，系统成员不存在共同的偏好。（2）对于互补产品，并非"一绑就灵"，分开销售会成为系统成员的共同偏好，而非捆绑销售。（3）对于替代产品，并非不能捆绑，感知价值相差处于中间范围的低成本替代产品和感知价值相差较小的高成本替代产品均在捆绑销售下更有利可图。     

基于顾客选择行为的多质量等级时鲜产品定价策略研究

基于现实中广泛存在的不同质量等级时鲜产品销售的现象,本文研究了追求收益最大化的销售商定价策略。我们考虑两种质量等级的情形,从顾客在不同等级产品之间的选择行为出发,研究了产品数量既定情形下销售商的最优折扣定价决策。同时,我们将这种"分离"销售策略与混合销售策略进行了对比。研究表明,当潜在顾客规模较小或产品供给相对较多时,分离策略相对混合策略的收益改进是更为显著的。     

捆绑策略对于低性能产品引入的价值

如何将低性能产品(低吸引力产品)引入现有高性能产品进行销售已成为企业关注的重要问题,尤其是当低性能产品具有各种边际成本结构以及顾客表现为在更长时间域理性选择购买时机的行为时.研究了捆绑策略对于低性能产品引入的价值,考虑了不引入低性能产品(只销售高性能产品)的基准策略以及引入低性能产品(同时销售两种产品)的完全捆绑策略、分开销售策略与混合捆绑策略.结论显示:当低性能产品的边际成本较低以及与高性能产品之间的竞食性较强时,不引入低性能产品对企业更有利.当低性能产品具有中等(较低)边际成本且与高性能产品之间的竞食性较弱时,企业应当采用混合捆绑策略引入低性能产品.此外,还分析了完全捆绑策略与分开销售策略的适用范围.     

WTP差异下的再制造进入决策研究

本文在消费者对再制造产品及新产品的支付意愿存在差异的条件下,分别对有无竞争环境下OEM的再制造进入决策边界条件进行了研究。研究结果表明,满足边界条件时,虽然再制造产品对新产品的市场产生了蚕食效应,但再制造产品的获利性能弥补这种损失,使得OEM进入再制造能获取更多的利润。在此基础上,通过数值仿真,讨论了不同参数对OEM及竞争者的产量及利润的影响。     

考虑奢侈与环保偏好的再制造品最优定价策略

把奢侈、环保偏好消费者考虑到再制造品市场需求中,研究了奢侈与环保消费者构成市场的再制造品最优定价策略,发现奢侈与环保偏好消费者比例不同的市场再制造品最优定价存在差异,并且差异价格随着消费者比例不同有所不同;同时发现在价格歧视的边界上,即奢侈消费者与绿色消费者比例存在某种特定关系时,差异价格可以获得相同的利润,却可以得到不同再制造品数量,这为制造商在利润不受损下,实现社会环保目标、提升绿色形象创造了一条路径。然后根据上述的不同的市场结构特征,建议制造商采取相应价格歧视策略,并通过算例验证了上述的结论。     

专利保护下闭环供应链的再制造策略研究

在专利完善市场,受专利保护的原制造商享有产品再制造的专有权利,只有获得原制造商的专利许可,第三方再制造商才能进行旧产品的回收再制造。本文分析了受专利保护下原制造商所采取的不同再制造策略:阻止旧产品再制造(N策略)、原制造商自己再制造(O策略)和许可第三方再制造商进行再制造(A策略),并建立了由零售商负责旧产品回收的闭环供应链模型。通过比较发现,只有在第三方再制造商处理旧产品的节省成本足够低时,受专利保护的原制造商才会选择许可第三方再制造商进行旧产品再制造。