A routine-based framework implementing workload control to address recurring disturbances

Abstract

This research focuses on responsiveness in high variety manufacturing environments. To achieve it, the article proposes to develop Dynamic Response Capabilities (DRCs) of the manufacturing system defined as the abilities to readjust the planned operating parameters of workload, capacity, and lead time, in the wake of disturbances. To inform their development, built on the Workload Control theory, a routine-based framework is proposed. The framework supports an integrated approach for the implementation of adaptive decision-making routines for workload, capacity, and lead time readjustments at different stages in the order fulfilment process. Findings from two empirical cases show the appropriateness of the framework to develop and utilise DRCs in different settings of disturbances. Results of a simulation study, with one of the case companies, also shows the effectiveness of the framework to drive performance improvements in presence of recurring disturbances leading to demand variability.     

Quality management and performance: a comparison between the UK and Turkey

Purpose: The aim of this article is to detail the correlation between quality management, specifically its tools and critical success factors, and performance in terms of primary operational and secondary organisational performances.

Design/methodology/approach: Survey data from the UK and Turkey were analysed using exploratory factor analyses, structural equation modelling and regression analysis.

Findings: The results show that quality management has a significant and positive impact on both primary and secondary performances; that Turkish and UK attitudes to quality management are similar; and that quality management is widely practised in manufacturing and service industries but has more statistical emphasis in the manufacturing sector. The main challenge for making quality management practice more effective lies in an appropriate balanced use of the different sorts of the tools and critical success factors.

Originality/value: This study takes a novel approach by: (i) exploring the relationship between primary operational and secondary organisational performances, (ii) using service and manufacturing data and (iii) making a cross-country comparison between the UK (a developed economy) and Turkey (a developing economy).

Limitations: Detailed contrast provided between only two countries.     

Surgical Suites' Operations Management

Surgical suites are a key driver of a hospital's costs, revenues, and utilization of postoperative resources such as beds. This article describes some commonly occurring operations management problems faced by the managers of surgical suites. For three of these problems, the article also provides preliminary models and possible solution approaches. Its goal is to identify open challenges to spur further research by the operations management community on an important class of problems that have not received adequate attention in the literature, despite their economic importance.     

The Effect of Timing on Jump Bidding in Ascending Auctions

We investigate the role of timing in ascending auctions under the premise that time is a valuable resource. Traditional models of the English auction ignore timing issues by assuming that the auction occurs instantaneously. However, when auctions are slow, as Internet auctions used for procurement often are, there are significant opportunity or monitoring costs to bidders, and the choice of the size of the jump bid becomes a strategic decision. We study the choice in the experimental laboratory by systematically varying the opportunity costs associated with fast bidding. When time is more valuable bidders respond by choosing larger jump bids. Surprisingly, the economic performance of the auction is not significantly affected. We develop a simple model of ascending auctions with impatient bidders that provides insights into the effect jump bids have on auction performance.     

Focusing on Customer Time in Field Service: A Normative Approach

Although customer convenience should be rightfully considered a central element in field services, the customer experience suggests that service enterprises rarely take the customer's preferred time into account in making operational and scheduling decisions. In this paper we present the results of our exploratory research into two interrelated topics: the explicit inclusion of customer time in nonemergency field service delivery decisions and the analysis of trade‐off between the customer's convenience and field service provider's cost. Based on prior research in service quality we identify and illustrate two time‐based performance metrics that are particularly appropriate for assessing service quality in nonemergency field services: performance and conformance quality. To determine vehicle routes, we develop a hybrid heuristic derived from the existing and proven heuristic methods. A numerical example closely patterned after real‐life data is generated and used within a computational experiment to investigate alternate policies for promise time windows. Our experiment shows that over a reasonable range of customer cost parameters the policy of shorter promise time windows reduces the combined total cost incurred by the provider and the customers and should be considered a preferred policy by the field service provider. Managerial implications of this result are discussed.     

Improving operational plant performance in international manufacturing networks: the effects of integrative capabilities and plant roles

Abstract

This study adopts the resource-based view to examine how two integrative capabilities of a plant embedded in a manufacturing network enhance operational performance: the capability to connect with other plants in its manufacturing network (a networking capability, NC), and the capability to integrate manufacturing processes with new product development processes (a new product development capability, NPDC). Our model tests the indirect effect of NC on cost, quality, flexibility and delivery through NPDC. Furthermore, we test if the relationship between NC and NPDC depends on the strategic role of the plant. Using survey data from a sample of 521 plants, we confirmed the mediating effect of NPDC. However, the moderation effect was not confirmed. Our findings reveal that plants can deploy NPDC capabilities, fostered by NC, independently from their role in the network. This study contributes to the understanding of plant capabilities and plant roles in manufacturing networks.     

行为库存管理研究综述及前景展望

库存管理是运作管理学科的研究重点之一.由于其在经济活动中具有重要的地位,库存管理在行为运作管理这一新兴学科中再次成为学术界关注的焦点.本文首先简述了行为运作管理的行为理论基础以及行为经济学的发展,根据行为运作管理的研究目标构建了行为库存管理的整体研究框架,进而在这一框架下对现有的行为库存管理相关研究进行系统综述,并进一...     

考虑货主价格参照效应的海运运力合同定价策略

研究了考虑货主价格参照效应时的2级海运链的运力合同分配和定价问题.分别建立了考虑与不考虑下游货主价格参照效应时的运力合同分配与定价数学模型,分析了模型的性质,并通过数值仿真比较分析了货主的价格参照效应对货运代理运力采购量与承运商运力定价策略的影响.研究发现:货运代理的最优运力合同采购量受到运力合同价格和下游货主价格参照效应的双重影响,而承运商的最优合同价格会小于不考虑参照效应时的定价,且随着参照效应的增加,承运商的最优合同价格和最大利润都会降低;同时,参照效应存在上限,如果货主价格参照效应大于该值,那么承运商会选择完全的现货市场交易.     

管理科学与工程理论与方法突破若干重点前沿领域

管理科学与工程学科“十四五”战略规划课题组在国家自然科学基金委管理科学部的指导和资助下,通过调研和多轮专家评审归纳总结出“十四五”期间管理科学与工程学科层面的重点前沿领域。本文从运筹学和商务数据两个层面,汇报了亟需取得理论与方法突破的若干重点前沿领域。     

布点教学法：推进新课程改革的课堂教学新方法

布点教学法是按问题解决模式 ,借助布点 (板书 )揭示教学目标 ,从而实现教学效果优化、教学质量提高的一种新的教学方法。它通过“四步操作”即阅读教材、合书布点、分层推进、策略回顾 ,实现“两个转换” ,即步骤转换———优化的自学步骤转换为教学步骤和目标转换———教师的教学目标转换为学生的学习目标 ,从而实现从与自学过程同构到与问题解决模式同构的优化