A multi-objective and multi-period optimization model for urban healthcare waste’s reverse logistics network design

Various types of healthcare waste (or medical waste) generated by urban healthcare activities have increased due to the expansion of urban population and medical needs. As healthcare wastes are harmful to both the environment and human health, managing medical waste is becoming progressively more important. Constructing an optimized medical waste recycling network is one of the key problems in the management of urban healthcare waste. This paper conducts a two-stage reverse logistics network design for urban healthcare waste. The first stage involves the prediction of the amount of medical waste. Based on the Grey GM(1,1) prediction model, the amount of medical waste in multi-period of the target hospitals is predicted. In the second stage, a multi-objective model aimed at minimizing operating costs and minimizing environmental impact is developed for facilities allocation decisions, which include the configuration of key facilities such as hospitals, collection centers, transshipment centers, processing centers, and disposal sites, as well as medical waste flow control among facilities. A dynamic approach for the healthcare waste reverse logistics network is constructed by combining the Grey GM(1,1) prediction method with multi-objective optimization model. Sensitivity analysis of key parameters has been performed to analyze their impact on network performance. Some insightful management practices have been revealed.

     

信息分享模式对第三方负责回收闭环供应链的影响

研究了零售商预测信息分享对第三方负责回收闭环供应链的影响.分别建立了集中式闭环供应链下信息分享模型以及四种信息分享模式(无信息分享、信息仅与第三方分享、信息仅与制造商分享和信息与制造商和第三方均分享)的闭环供应链模型.研究发现,零售商分享其私有预测信息对其收益是不利的,但信息分享使得信息仅与第三方分享模式下供应链预期利润增加,通过建立信息分享补偿机制使得零售商有动机分享其需求预测信息.同时发现信息分享对各方的价值以及各方对信息分享模式的偏好取决于回收旧产品价格.     

逆向物流网络设计研究进展

随着环境资源压力的增大,政府法制要求以及社会环保要求的提升,研究者对逆向物流网络的研究日益关注。本文系统地对近几年的逆向物流网络设计研究进行回顾,讨论并对比研究了网络设计研究问题,研究方法,定量模型,求解算法以及逆向物流网络设计中不确定环境方面的研究。探讨了逆向物流网络研究中的不足,为研究者未来的研究方向提供了参考。     

A goal programming model for paper recycling system

The conflict between economic optimization and environmental protection has received wide attention in recent research programs for waste management system planning. This has also resulted in a set of new waste management goals in reverse logistics system planning. The purpose of this analysis is to formulate a mixed integer goal programming (MIGP) model to assist in proper management of the paper recycling logistics system. The model studies the inter-relationship between multiple objectives (with changing priorities) of a recycled paper distribution network. The objectives considered are reduction in reverse logistics cost; product quality improvement through increased segregation at the source; and environmental benefits through increased wastepaper recovery. The proposed model also assists in determining the facility location, route and flow of different varieties of recyclable wastepaper in the multi-item, multi-echelon and multi-facility decision making framework. The use of the model has been illustrated through a problem of paper recycling in India.     

Firm-level correlates of emergent green supply chain management practices in the Chinese context

Greening the supply chain is increasingly a concern for many business enterprises and a challenge for logistics management in the 21st century. Of particular concern is how to arouse organizational environmental awareness and put environmental activities into practice in the logistics activities of their supply chains. This paper investigates the correlation of two major factors, organizational learning and management support, with the extent of adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices in Chinese manufacturing firms, where their inbound and outbound logistics activities are potential polluters to the environment. Organizational and operational learning was derived from the firm's experience with programs such as total quality management and environmental management systems. Management support included support for GSCM ideas and practices from top and middle-level management and cooperation across organizational functions. We find significant positive relationships between organizational learning mechanisms, organizational support and the adoption of GSCM practices, after controlling for a number of other influences including regulations, marketing, supplier, cost pressures, industry levels of the relevant practice and organizational size. Implications of our findings on logistics management are discussed.     

基于差距分析的绿色供应链标杆测评

绿色供应链从战略高度对组织的实践活动进行环境管理,通过提高资源利用率,消除废弃物,减少业务活动对环境的影响,可以赢得企业在革新和经营上的竞争优势.文章对比了反向供应链与绿色供应链在功能上的不同,采用基于差距分析法的标杆测评,评估了供应链的绿色度,绘制的蛛网图可反映出当前供应链与目标供应链之间的绿色度差距.企业可以据此来优化供应链的业务流程,合理配置资源.     

An integrated closed-loop product lifecycle management approach for reverse logistics design

Nowadays, reverse logistics is gaining importance for many companies in different industries. This importance is rooted in the fact that it generates profit and decreases the environmental impacts of products. Even though the decrease of environmental impacts is an indispensable requisite, reverse logistics design is only driven by cost indicators. The main reason behind this high cost is access to environmental information is difficult and is directly linked to data all along the lifecycle of the product. This paper presents a method by which reverse logistics design integrates environmental impacts based on the management of closed-loop product lifecycle. This method is divided into two processes: from beginning of life to end of life and from end of life to beginning of life. The first process integrates product data in order to calculate environmental impacts of the potential reverse logistics networks, whereas the second process selects the most appropriate reverse logistics network before optimising the product based on this particular network. The proposition is illustrated by a case study on a recycled aluminium automotive part.     

不同政府决策目标下逆向供应链的奖惩机制研究

考虑政府的三种决策目标,研究了逆向供应链的政府奖惩机制设计问题。分别建立了有无奖惩机制下的逆向供应链博弈模型,得到了政府奖惩力度的均衡解,并对求解结果进行比较,讨论了管理意义,最后通过算例验证了模型的结论并进一步仿真分析了外生变量对决策变量影响。研究表明:政府奖惩机制不仅能够提高废旧电器电子产品的回收率,还能降低新产品零售价,提高回购价,有利于全社会福利的提高;奖惩力度随着市场容量的增加而提高,政府应根据制造商产品的市场容量大小制定奖惩力度而不是对所有制造商制定统一的奖惩力度;政府应综合考虑全社会福利和废旧产品回收带来的环境效益,这样能较好地提高逆向供应链的回收率。     

Issues in end-of-life product recovery and reverse logistics

There is a fundamental shift in waste management responsibility from the private waste management industry and local governments towards manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. In recent years the responsibility of manufacturers has been extended to cover the entire life of certain products. This also includes responsibility for the products safe disposal. As the enforcement of environmental legislation becomes more stringent and an increasing number of customers are demanding take-back of their old products, companies are beginning to focus on possible distribution channels for the return of their products i.e. reverse logistics. The aim of this paper is to examine the emerging issues in reverse logistics, in particular the information requirements for reverse logistics within the Extended Enterprise. A study of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) will illustrate the specific information flow between the key players within the automotive industry. This paper addresses the initial development of possible distribution channels, their key operational decisions and supporting information systems for the recycling of end of life products.     

废弃物回收的多层逆向物流网络优化设计问题研究

废弃物逆向物流网络设计问题是一个关系到经济效益和社会效益的问题.本文研究了废弃物逆向物流网络设计问题,包括选择中转站和处理站的地址,确定将产生点的废弃物分配给中转站以及从中转站运送到处理站的最佳策略,确定处理站的容量.考虑了在满足公众的意愿的情况下,建立了一个多目标的纯整数规划模型,最小化总的建设费用和设施对公众产生的负效用.设计了基于启发式的两阶段分解算法求解,从而构建一个废弃物回收的多层逆向物流网络.最后的算例仿真表明了算法的有效性和可行性.     

Impact of product proliferation on the reverse supply chain

Product variety is one of the most important advantages in highly competitive markets. However, excessive product proliferation's reducing the profit margin has caused increased focus on developing a management method for maximal profit. In a closed-loop supply chain, product proliferation affects the reverse supply chain as well as the forward supply chain. Although increasing the number of product types can better satisfy diverse customer needs, complexity in the product recycling, remanufacturing, and resale processes may erode a firm's overall profits. In this study, we develop a mathematical model for analyzing a capacitated reverse supply chain consisting of a single manufacturer and multiple retailers. We reveal closed-form solutions for the optimal batch size and maximal profit, and discuss managerial insights into how the number of products and other factors can affect both batch size and profit. Finally, we investigate the relationship between product proliferation and the choice of logistics strategy.     

Network design for reverse logistics

Collection and recycling of product returns is gaining interest in business and research worldwide. Growing green concerns and advancement of green supply chain management (GrSCM) concepts and practices make it all the more relevant. Inputs from literature and informal interviews with 84 stakeholders are used to develop a conceptual model for simultaneous location–allocation of facilities for a cost effective and efficient reverse logistics (RL) network. We cover costs and operations across a wide domain and our proposed RL network consists of collection centers and two types of rework facilities set up by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or their consortia for a few categories of product returns under various strategic, operational and customer service constraints in the Indian context.     

Greening the health care supply chain: Triggers of change,models for success

A historic agreement signed in July 1998 between the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signals changes in waste management in the health care industry. The agreement, which calls for a fifty percent reduction of hospital waste by 2010, will not only have an impact on hospital facility managers, but throughout the entire healthcare supply chain. As this article argues, improving the environmental impact of the health care industry should start with the health care delivery institutions themselves. The health care industry has a long way to go in addressing its environmental impacts, compared to the energy and chemical industries, for example. One reason is that these industries are raising their suppliers' environmental performance. Health care delivery institutions can effectively pull environmental performance requirements through the entire supply chain as well. This can be accomplished by examining supply chain strategies of leading industries and firms and considering the role of environmental management systems such as a ISO 14001 throughout the entire chain.     

考虑双向主导相异的闭环供应链物流策略与补贴机制研究

目前,闭环供应链研究均是在正向和逆向主导企业为同一企业的条件下进行的,然而正向供应链中企业重视产品质量,逆向供应链中企业重视回收渠道,况且正向供应链中的物流策略并不一定适合逆向供应链。基于此,将供应链主导模式分为正向制造商主导和逆向销售商主导,物流策略分为正向物流策略和逆向物流策略。通过构建模型,运用博弈论理论,探讨了不同闭环供应链的定价策略、补贴机制和供应链稳定性,得到了供应链主导企业通过选择物流策略和补贴机制来实现供应链稳定性的条件。     

Empirical research opportunities in reverse supply chains

This study reviews the literature in reverse supply chains (RSCs) and develops 10 research propositions to be studied using empirical research methods. Businesses increasingly have to cope with product returns, mandated environmental regulations and increasing costs associated with product disposal. Through effective management of the RSC, managers can improve process efficiencies, customer service, supply chain design, product design, after-market product sales and after-sales service. Most research in RSCs has relied on case studies and optimization models. Opportunities exist to use survey-based research methods to explain current practices, predominant and critical issues, and managerial techniques used to manage the RSC.     

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.     

社会责任环境下供应链的协作与利润分享策略研究

在企业社会责任环境下,研究了由一个供应商和一个制造商组成的两层供应链的协作、定价及其利润分享问题.分别研究了Nash均衡、Stackelberg均衡和合作博弈情况下,制造商与供应商的均衡结果和系统利润,并设计一简单的收入分享契约,该利润分享契约可以实现供应链的帕雷托改进,甚至达到集中式供应链的情形.最后给出了算例分析.     

基于PDCA的供应链视角下物流客户服务绩效评价研究

在系统总结国内外相关文献的基础上,设计了基于PDCA循环的供应链视角下物流客户服务绩效评价流程,并针对每个流程给出了控制重点,旨在通过对绩效评价流程的规范管理,不断提高物流客户服务绩效和供应链整体绩效水平。在绩效评价方案设计环节提出了给予供应链整体绩效提升的物流客户服务绩效评价方法和指标体系,在绩效评价方案实施环节给出了应用模糊层次分析法选择物流服务商的步骤。     

A PRACTICAL SETTING FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ABOUT SUPPLY CHAINS: SIEMENS BRIEF CASE GAME SUPPLY CHAIN SIMULATOR

Siemens Brief Case Game Supply Chain Simulator provides a practical setting for experiential learning exercises about supply chains. The game, drawing upon an actual situation, models the jobs of nine supply chain activities required to transform an order placed by the customer into a delivered product. Using the detail and complexity of the game, instructors can develop learning exercises that focus on a wide range of supply chain management issues. This paper describes two learning exercises with different objectives and for different audiences that we successfully delivered using the Brief Case Game. One exercise provides a concrete example of typical activities in a supply chain and their interactions. The other exercise leads students to discover what creates a need for coordination, what activities in a supply chain require coordination, and what methods work well. These exercises are suited for small upper level undergraduate and graduate courses in logistics and supply chain management. While significant resources were used to develop exercises and deliver the game, students were enthusiastic about the approach and demonstrated that they learned about the complexity inherent in managing supply chains.     

The impact of timely information on organisational performance in a supply chain

Information produced by ERP systems is termed JIT-information, since it is provided at the right time in the right place with a minimum of waste. The JIT-information construct is defined and described and a measurement scale is developed. A JIT-information performance model is proposed and assessed using a structural equation modelling methodology. The results indicate that the model fits the data well: (1) supply chain management strategy positively impacts JIT-information, (2) JIT-information directly impacts both logistics and organisational performance, and (3) logistics performance directly impacts organisational performance.