Effect of Inventory Information Discrepancy in a Drop‐Shipping Supply Chain

This article investigates the impact of information discrepancy between a drop‐shipper and an online retailer on the drop‐shipping supply chain performance. The inventory information misalignment between them contributes to the failure of order fulfillment and demand satisfaction, and hence the associated penalties are incurred. In this article, we first analyze the penalties of ignoring such information discrepancy on both the drop‐shipper and the online retailer. We then assess the impact of information discrepancy on both parties when the drop‐shipper understands the existence of the information discrepancy but is not able to eliminate the errors. The numerical experiments indicate that both parties can have significant amount of the percentage cost reductions if the information discrepancy can be eliminated, and the potential savings are substantial especially when the errors have large variability. Furthermore, we observe that the online retailer is more vulnerable to information discrepancy than the drop‐shipper, and the drop‐shipper is likely to suffer from the online retailer's underestimation of the physical inventory level more than the problem of its overestimation. Moreover, even if eliminating errors is not possible, both parties could still benefit from taking the possibility of errors into consideration in decision making.     

基于人体膳食均衡视角下的我国果蔬消费趋势预测与结构优化

水果和蔬菜是为人体提供矿物质、维生素、膳食纤维等营养元素的重要农产品,我国居民饮食中普遍存在着能量相对过剩、果蔬摄入量不足的问题。以人体膳食均衡为研究视角,研究我国果蔬消费趋势和结构优化问题,结果表明：按照当前的消费趋势发展,我国居民营养摄入不足与过剩同在的问题依然无法得到解决;我国政府在制定水果和蔬菜战略布局的决策中,应综合考虑人体的膳食营养均衡和未来市场营养需求,以实现我国果蔬产业布局优化;消费者在进行水果和蔬菜消费购买行为时,应在营养膳食均衡的基础上进行合理消费。     

结构优化对我国农产品出口竞争力的影响

应用产业组织理论,揭示结构优化对农产品国际竞争力的作用机理。以RCA衡量农产品出口竞争力并建立多元回归模型,在有效分离工资、土地灌溉面积和汇率等因素后,实证研究发现技术结构对农产品出口竞争力有显著正向影响。当前经济背景下,提升农产品出口竞争力的政策思路,需从传统的要素禀赋优势转移到结构优化的轨道上来。优化农产品出口结构,政府需加大对高附加值农产品在生产、流通、出口等环节的支持力度,营造寡占的农产品市场结构,鼓励和扶持创意农业的发展。     

基于灰色系统的小型精密机床热误差模型

为减少热误差对数控机床加工精度的影响,文章利用灰色系统研究热误差建模。初步分析机床热源后,应用灰 色关联度分析结合模糊分类方法优化得到13组关键温度测点,结合小型精密五轴机床处于实际加工状态时的实验数 据,应用GM(I,N)灰色结构进行建模。将实际数据与拟合数据进行对比分析,结果表明此灰色系统模型具有计算方法 成熟、鲁棒性强的特点,适用于机床热误差研究。     

模具钢干铣削试验及参数优化研究

为了对铣削力做进一步的研究,以及预测铣削参数的改变对铣削力变化的影响,文章建立了铣削力预测模型,引 入了PSO优化算法。试验采用正交设计方法,干式铣削SKD61模具钢;KISTLER测力仪测量铣削力;HRsoft_DW数采软 件采集试验数据,并对数据进行极差分析。研究结果表明每齿进给量是铣削参数中影响铣削力最为主要的因素。研究 验证了PSO算法对铣削参数优化问题具有有效性。     

大学生认知方式与德育方法的优化

认知方式划分为场依存和场独立两种类型,大学生认知方式与德育方法实施产生的效果有相关性。笔者认为应构建"以人为本"的德育方法论体系,根据大学生不同的认知方式采取分类指导原则,实施相应的有针对性和实效性的德育方法。     

A NOTE ON HOLDING COSTS AND LOT-SIZE ERRORS

This note examines the sensitivity of the basic economic-order-quantity inventory model to lot-size errors when holding costs are assumed to be a strictly increasing (though not necessarily linear) function of average inventory. In particular, we show that the penalty associated with ordering either too much or too little is a function not only of the size of the error but of the shape of the holding-cost curve as well. We demonstrate that, under certain conditions, even relatively small lot-size errors can be extremely costly.     

COST INCREASES DUE TO DEMAND UNCERTAINTY IN MRP LOT SIZING

This paper analyzes the cost increases due to demand uncertainty in single-level MRP lot sizing on a rolling horizon. It is shown that forecast errors have a tremendous effect on the cost effectiveness of lot-sizing techniques even when these forecast errors are small. Moreover, the cost differences between different techniques become rather insignificant in the presence of forecast errors. Since most industrial firms face demand uncertainty to some extent, our findings may have important managerial implications. Various simulation experiments give insight into both the nature and the magnitude of the cost increases for different heuristics. Analytical results are developed for the constant-demand case with random noise and forecasting by exponential smoothing. It is also shown how optimal buffers can be obtained by use of a simple model. Although the analysis in this paper is restricted to simplified cases, the results merit further consideration and study. This paper is one of the first to inject forecast errors into MRP lot-sizing research. As such it attempts to deal with one of the major objections against the practical relevance of previous research in this area.     

A SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF THE JAPANESE JUST-IN-TIME TECHNIQUE (WITH KANBANS) FOR A MULTILINE,MULTISTAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

The Japanese “just-in-time with kanban” technique reduces in-process inventory to absolute minimal levels, in concert with the Japanese belief that inventory is an unnecessary evil. Due to the success of Japanese firms that employ this type of system, American firms would like to import this technique and emulate Japanese successes. But this Japanese success may be attributable not only to the just-in-time with kanban technique but also to the production environment in which the technique is employed. This paper simulates the just-in-time with kanban technique for a multiline, multistage production system in order to determine its adaptability to an American production environment that might include such characteristics as variable processing times, variable master production scheduling, and imbalances between production stages. The results have practical implications for those firms considering adoption of the Japanese technique.     

SOME COMMENTS ON “A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS PLANNING”*

We believe there are some serious deficiencies in the Morecroft article on MRP problems which appeared in a recent issue of this journal. The article, at the most, shows that MRP, inappropriately imposed on an existing production system, can result in undesirable system performance. This does not represent a new or startling conclusion. Four problem areas in the article are discussed, and suggested alternative approaches are offered.