供应链中物流及信息流管理

供应链管理使企业在变化的市场环境中有效地与其它企业合作,取得集体竞争优势。本文首先讨论了后勤学与供应链管理的定义和之间的关系。本文认为供应链管理的核心是物流与信息流的控制。物流控制决策主要包括操作层次的库存补充和运输路径规划,以及战略层次的设施地点规划。信息流管理跨越部门与企业的界限将相关的应用集成起来。动态联盟协调各企业内部的生产经营活动,战略性地决定物流与信息流的构形。     

Green logistics management and performance: Some empirical evidence from Chinese manufacturing exporters

The value chain of many business enterprises is increasingly required to demonstrate the profitability of their primary activities, starting from inbound logistics to operations, outbound logistics, marketing sales, and finally to services. The adoption of green logistics management (GLM) presents an opportunity for Chinese manufacturing exporters to competently respond to the escalating expectation of the international community for resources conservation and to achieve environmental performance profitably. This study makes several important contributions to the literature on managing logistics with environmental considerations. First, the authors identify the components of GLM: (i) procedure-based practices, (ii) evaluation-based practices, (iii) partner-based practices, and (iv) general environmental management practices. Second, they relate GLM to environmental and operational performance in a developing country context. Third, they identify the institutional and operational antecedents that prompt the adoption of GLM by export-oriented manufacturing enterprises in China. Fourth, they examine the moderating effect of environmental regulatory pressure on the GLM-performance linkage. The results are based on a survey of manufacturing exporters in China. The commonly held view that economic motivation is related to the adoption of GLM is not supported. However, GLM positively affects both environmental and operational performance, and regulatory pressure enhances the GLM-performance relationship.     

A model of the adoption of radio frequency identification technology: The case of logistics service firms

Globalization and advances in information technology represent both realities and opportunities for enterprises in the 21st century. This paper aims to broaden understanding of service innovation as a critical organizational capability through which the adoption of information technology influences firm performance. This study examines how the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology influences the operational performance of logistics service firms. We develop the RFID adoption model based on the interorganizational information systems (IOS) view of the firm that integrates the various strands of research into the framework. The study draws from the related information technology and interorganizational information systems literatures to explore organizational factors associated with the adoption of RFID. A model of the associations between information technology and interorganizational information systems use, social support, power structure, organizational readiness, procedural flexibility, and top management support is developed, and hypotheses are advanced about the relationships among these constructs. An empirical survey was conducted among 500 logistics service firms in Taiwan. A total of 131 valid observations were analyzed using the partial least squares technique. Results showed that RFID adoption has positive effects on business practices, which in turn improves operational performance. We address the value of certain interactive firm behaviors in RFID adoption and identify related constructs of RFID adoption in terms of their efficiency and value for logistics service firms. These results have implications for both education and practice.     

基于EVA与经营风险偏好的供应链鲁棒优化模型

在由一个制造商和多个外部供应商构成的多产品、多阶段供应链中,将经济增加值（EVA）作为体现价值创造的绩效指标,并考虑决策者的经营风险偏好,采用已知概率的离散情景描述资本成本与需求的波动情况,利用鲁棒随机规划方法,建立了以价值创造为目标的供应链鲁棒优化模型。应用分析的结果表明,模型能够将供应链的绩效与风险管理结合起来,减少资本成本与需求不确定对目标值的影响,得到具有鲁棒性的最优解,而且越是风险厌恶型的决策者越会为了保持较低的经营风险而放弃较大的EVA值。同时,决策者可选择不同的权重系数侧重于解鲁棒或模型鲁棒,保证供应链运作的鲁棒性,实现价值创造的目标。     

Taxonomy of ERP integrations and performance outcomes: an exploratory study of manufacturing firms

Building and deploying network capabilities of firms are crucial for sustaining competitive advantage. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are useful to enhance such network capabilities thorough effective information flows. Their intended goals are measured in terms of production costs, operational flexibility and supply chain performance outcomes. However, the impact of ERP system implementation on firm performance has been reported as somewhat inconclusive. This study contends that a missing link in the story is the scope and extent of ERP system implementation after investigating how the extent of ERP integration is associated with the performance outcomes of manufacturing firms. The study also posits that restructuring in the organisation and supply chains are positively associated with manufacturing performance. Since ERP often entails restructuring in an organisation and supply chains, it is anticipated that restructuring plays an important role in inducing positive impact of ERP implementation to the firm. Using a global sample of 641 manufacturers, this research identifies four distinct ERP systems integration patterns, epitomised by different extents and directions of integration, and finds a significant association among the broadest degree of ERP systems integration, restructuring and plant performance improvement. The empirical results also show that restructuring takes place most actively in a firm that implement ERP with widest scope and scale.     

A network of management support systems

Based on the decision-making process that actually happens in most organizations, a management support system (MSS) or an integrated decision support systems (DSS) is defined as a network of subsystem interfaces, as opposed to management information system (MIS) being a network of information flows. Three modes for subsystem interfaces are discussed. To help the operationalization of the (computerized) support system, we also propose a design architecture which consists of the continuum of conceptual constructs, operational constructs and implementational constructs.     

Measuring the logistics performance of internal hospital supply chains – A literature study

The patient care processes in hospitals are supported by a range of operational activities including inventory management and distribution of supplies to point-of-care locations. Hospitals carry large amounts and a great variety of items, and the issues of storing and distributing these items throughout the hospital supply chain are of great importance to providing high-quality patient service. Healthcare logistics encompasses the process of handling physical goods (e.g. pharmaceuticals, surgical medical products, medical equipment, sterile items, linen, food, etc.) and the associated information flows, from the reception of the goods within a hospital to their delivery at patient care locations. The medical supply costs constitute the second largest expenditure in hospitals, after personnel costs. A high-performing supply chain may realize improved outcomes (e.g. safe and quality patient service) and greater efficiency. Logistics managers need to identify opportunities to improve the logistics processes in order to lower costs and to improve patient care quality. However, in order to improve the logistics processes, you must understand how the healthcare supply chain is currently performing. Measuring the performance of the supply chain is fundamental to identify and address deficiencies in the logistics activities, and it serves as a good input for managerial decision-making. The purpose of this article is to present existing research on performance measurement at the internal hospital supply chain (e.g. inventory management, distribution activities), and more specifically in the operating theatre since it is among the most critical resources for a hospital. At the operating theatre, the requested items should be available at the right time at the right place, in the right condition, at the lowest cost possible. Furthermore, we will also discuss literature on multi-criteria decision-making techniques. It enables researchers to build a performance measurement framework and to prioritize between multiple performance indicators since a diverse group of stakeholders with conflicting interests is involved in the internal operating room supply chain.     

Competitive and Cooperative Positioning in Supply Chain Logistics Relationships*

Cooperative logistics relationships require the sharing of information, which must be enabled by the integration of disparate information systems across partners. In this article, we theorize business‐to‐business logistics relationships should be managed using cooperative and competitive postures. Based on data from 91 dyadic relationships using interorganizational information technology (IT), we find that performance gains accrue when parties share strategic information and customize IT; mutual trust enables IT customization and strategic‐information flows and equitable relationship‐specific investments positively impact IT customization, mutual trust, and performance. Among other scholarly and practical implications discussed, partners should compete on resources for IT customization and cooperate to share strategic information. Managers tend to think of relationships with firms as polar opposites and view them as entirely cooperative or entirely competitive. Our results support active balancing and understanding of both competitive and cooperative stances. Such an approach enables conditions for participation symmetry that yields greater performance gains.     

A Simulation Study of Work-in-Process Inventory Drive Systems and their Effect on Operational Measurements

This simulation study compares three operational measures of performance through the exploration of three work-in-process (WIP) inventory drive systems and their associated inventory buffer characteristics. The three drive systems under study are a push, a pull and a hybrid push-pull system. While these systems have many aspects in common, their buffer management systems do not. The data analysis was based on information gathered from three computer-simulated flow shop assembly lines all operating in the same environment. Hypotheses concerning the operational performance measurements were established, independent variables were controlled and manipulated and a conclusion was drawn as to which system would afford the operation optimum results. While inventory has traditionally been considered and is currently being shown as an asset from an accounting point of view, it is obvious from the findings of this study, that excess WIP inventory, above the minimal requirements for production, may have a negative effect on the operational measurements evaluated.     

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.     

全球化挑战与管理变革——第6届管理国际大会综述

简要介绍了第6届管理国际大会的概况,并以物流与运作管理,信息管理与电子商务,决策与优化,战略管理,营销管理,人力资源与组织行为学,财会与金融,宏观管理、政策与创新管理8个专题简要介绍了学术交流的内容。     

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: AN EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS APPROACH WITHIN AN INTERVAL-BASED OPTIMIZATION FRAMEWORK

This article revisits an old problem; “systematically explore the information contained in a set of operating data records and find from it how to improve operational performance by taking the appropriate decisions in the space of operating conditions,” thus leading to continuous process improvement. A series of industrial case studies within the framework of the internships in the Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology led us to a reexamination of the traditional formulations for the above problem. The resulting methodology is characterized by the following features: (1) problem statement and solutions are expressed in terms of hyperrectangles in the decision space, replacing conventional pointwise results; (2) data-driven, nonparametric learning methodologies were advanced to produce the requisite mapping between performance and decisions; (3) operating performance is in essence multifaceted, leading to a multiobjective problem, which is treated as such. The proposed methodology has been applied to a number of industrial examples and in this paper we provide a brief overview only of those that can be discussed in the open literature.     

Product flows and decision models in Internet fulfillment warehouses

Internet Fulfillment Warehouses (IFWs) present a new operational model in the design and control of warehouses. IFWs operate with new paradigms, specifically, the use of an explosive storage policy combined with commingled storage are key features in achieving fast fulfillment. We document and present the process, data, and decision flows of IFW operations. The flows were synthesised from an observational study at the largest IFW operator. Detailed flows are presented for: (i) receiving and stocking (ii) order picking and consolidation and (iii) truck assignment and loading. The key contribution of this paper is introducing new warehousing models that are unique to fulfillment facilities which stock thousands of different products and process a very large number of small quantity customer orders. Multiple flow control and decision optimisation problems can be formulated from the operational models. Five specific problems are introduced, each focuses on the online retailing objective of fast fulfillment.     

Flow sensors in newspaper production

The paper evaluates potential savings in a newspaper production operation achieved by reducing errors in flow sensor counts at stackers, where newspaper bundles are made for distribution to customers. The reduction in count errors is achieved by installing extra flow sensors at various transfer points in the production flow network and using their counts along with using the deducible information from flow conservation equations.As the product flows in the production network, more diversity within the product line is introduced due to variations in inserts. Stop rules for a product inflowing into multiple reservoirs are developed which would minimize expected over production. More precise projections for product completion times are generated, which allow timely corrective actions.State sensors are installed, which give real time information about state of each equipment as to whether it is in an operational or failed mode. Knowledge of the state of the system provides ability to promptly generate, on a real time basis, alternative system configuration substituting redundant operational units for the failed units.     

Performance Impacts of Strategy,Information Technology Applications,and Business Process Outsourcing in U.S. Manufacturing Plants

This paper develops a conceptual model to study the role of outsourcing strategies and plant‐level information technology (IT) application infrastructure in the outsourcing of production and support business processes, as well as their subsequent impact on overall plant performance. We validate this model empirically using cross‐sectional survey data from U.S. manufacturing plants. We find that some IT applications are more effective at enabling the outsourcing of business processes than others. For example, the implementation of enterprise management systems is associated with the outsourcing of both production and support processes, whereas operations management systems are not associated with the outsourcing of plant processes. Plants with a low‐cost outsourcing strategy are more likely to outsource support processes than plants with a competency‐focused outsourcing strategy. However, both cost‐ and competency‐based strategies have a positive and similar impact on the outsourcing of production processes. In terms of implications for plant performance, our findings indicate that the outsourcing of production and support processes is associated with higher gross margins. Although plant IT infrastructure is positively associated with favorable on‐time delivery rates, there is no positive association between the incidence of plant outsourcing and on‐time delivery rates. These results have implications for crafting plant‐level outsourcing strategies and for investments in IT systems to facilitate the outsourcing of business processes for enhanced plant performance.     

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.     

The Effects of Competitive Environment on Supply Chain Information Sharing and Performance: An Empirical Study in China

Information sharing in supply chains has become an important topic over the past decade. This study uses data from 617 Chinese manufacturing firms to investigate the relationships among competitive environments, supply chain information sharing (SCIS), and supply chain performance. The results of structural equation modeling analysis show that (i) international competition is positively related to all three types of SCIS whereas local competition is not significantly related to any of the three types, (ii) internal information sharing is positively related to external information sharing with suppliers and customers, and (iii) internal information sharing and information sharing with customers are positively related to superior supply chain performance, whereas supplier information sharing is not significantly related to performance. The findings enhance our understanding of the relationships among competitive environment, SCIS, and supply chain performance in Chinese manufacturing settings.     

CAPACITY AND PRODUCTION DECISIONS IN STOCHASTIC MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS: AN ASYMPTOTIC OPTIMAL HIERARCHICAL APPROACH

We present a new paradigm of hierarchical decision making in production planning and capacity expansion problems under uncertainty. We show that under reasonable assumptions, the strategic level management can base the capacity decision on aggregated information from the shopfloor, and the operational level management, given this decision, can derive a production plan for the system, without too large a loss in optimality when compared to simultaneous determination of optimal capacity and production decisions. The results are obtained via an asymptotic analysis of a manufacturing system with convex costs, constant demand, and with machines subject to random breakdown and repair. The decision variables are purchase time of a new machine at a given fixed cost and production plans before and after the purchase. The objective is to minimize the discounted costs of investment, production, inventories, and backlogs. If the rate of change in machine states such as up and down is assumed to be much larger than the rate of discounting costs, one obtains a simpler limiting problem in which the random capacity is replaced by its mean. We develop methods for constructing asymptotically optimal decisions for the original problem from the optimal decisions for the limiting problem. We obtain error estimates for these constructed decisions.     

The Influences of User Characteristics on Performance in a Logistics DSS Application

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are widely used in logistics decision applications, and a large number and variety of systems are commercially available. We investigate the contributions of user characteristics including experiences, data preferences, intuition, and effort to decision performance in a logistics DSS context. The study includes a laboratory experiment in which decision makers with varied experiences used a DSS to make facility network design decisions for problems of varying complexity. Two variants of the DSS are utilized in order to examine the interactions of a DSS decision aid with user characteristics. We find that intuition and effort are associated with decision-making performance. High analytic ability is not related to intuition, however. Education and previous experience are associated with performance. Yet these characteristics are also unrelated to intuition. Decision makers who highly value disaggregated data provided by the DSS tend to perform poorly. Also, the results suggest that the effects of users' experiences and preferences on performance are influenced by an analytical decision aid.     

Is outsourcing of intangibles a real source of competitive advantage?

Intangible investments constitute an emerging and important field of management. The objective of this article is to further consider the problem of intangible resource externalization from a theoretical as well as an operational point of view. The first section reviews the problem of defining intangibles; the second section considers the issue of outsourcing intangibles from a theoretical as well as an operational point of view; the third section reviews the practical issues (especially costrelated) of outsourcing, for two main intangible activities: research and development and information technology services (information logistics functions). The fourth section summarizes the main issues and discusses their implications for accounting analysis and practice.